Chinanews.com, December 30th. According to a British Sky News report on the 30th, the latest data from the British National Health Service (NHS) showed that in the week from December 19th to 25th, 3,746 flu patients were hospitalized in the UK every day. In November, the number of flu patients was 7 times as much.
Of the 3,746 flu patients hospitalized last week, 267 were in intensive care beds, according to reports.
The NHS has warned that the continued increase in flu cases is putting enormous pressure on the healthcare system.
It is reported that the current bed occupancy rate in the UK is still particularly high, with more than 93% of the beds full, compared with 86% in the same period last year.
It is the lowest number of free beds since records began in 2012.
"Sadly, these latest flu figures show that our fears of a 'double epidemic' have come true. The number of cases has increased sevenfold in just one month," said NHS National Medical Director Professor Stephen Powis.
"And the ongoing impact of COVID-19 has hit hospital staff hard. Related absences have increased by almost 50% by the end of November."
The total number of NHS staff taking sick leave rose by a fifth in the year to the end of November, from 52,556 to 63,296 a day.
Around the same time last year, only 34 flu patients were hospitalized, including two in intensive care.