More people attending hospital with 'flu symptoms'

More islanders are attending the Emergency Department (ED) with "flu-like symptoms", a doctor has said.

Jersey General Hospital consultant Awilly Chofle said there had also been a "small increase" in the number of Covid-19 cases at the hospital.

He said "infection control measures" were in place and staff, patients and visitors were being asked to wear masks.

Chofle urged people to avoid visiting the hospital if they had flu symptoms, which the NHS website said included a high temperature, cough or sore throat.

"I can confirm that we are experiencing a small increase in the number of covid cases in the ward," Chofle said.

"There's an increase in a number of people presenting in the emergency department with flu-like symptoms."

"We have put some infection control measures in our wards, and we now ask all our staff, visitors and patients to wear masks in the wards."

Chofle asked patients to call before attending the emergency department and seek advice.

He said patients would be offered masks when they visited the department.

"It's very important for our community and islanders to understand we need to keep our hospital functioning," Chofle added.

"One of the things we are trying to do is to encourage islanders to avoid coming to hospital if you have flu-like symptoms like a cough, fevers, sore throat, loss of taste and smell."

He said if islanders felt unwell not to visit the hospital unless they had to.

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