Mask wearing is being strongly encouraged at several hospitals in Perth, as Western Australia recorded more than 3000 flu cases during June, taking the annual total so far above 10,500.
At the same time the State Government has responded to rising case numbers by extending its free flu vaccination program for an additional month until the end of July.
Joondalup Health Campus confirmed that advice encouraging staff members to wear masks, which was implemented in June in response to the number of COVID-19 and influenza cases being treated, remains in place.
AMA (WA) President Dr Kyle Hoath said several private hospitals had since also provided similar advice to staff members.
“We’re definitely seeing that pick up and continue a little,” he said.
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Dr Hoath said mask-wearing during the peak times of respiratory virus transmission made sense and was taking hold as a wider trend.
He said it was not only doctors and hospital staff that were taking precautions by wearing masks during the peak flu season, but the general community appeared to be wearing masks more this flu season than in the previous couple of years.
“I’ve noticed more people just out and about in shopping centres in community wearing masks, either as a preventive measure for themselves or when they’re mildly unwell and to prevent spread,” Dr Hoath said.
“It appears we have gone from mask fatigue and people not wanting to wear then, to getting a sense of relaxing back into the status quo and realising that this is something other parts of the world have done for a long time that does confer a public health benefit.”
As of July 2, WA had recorded 10,525 influenza cases.
The rate of influenza notifications is slightly higher than last year so far, sitting at 661, compared to 628 in 2024.
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The overall annual rate will depend on when the peak of the flu season occurs.
Last year August saw the peak of cases recorded, while in the 2023 flu season, which was one of WA’s worst, June saw the most cases recorded.
Preventative Health Minister Sabine Winton said extending the free flu vaccination program meant more people could stay well, avoid hospitalisation and reduce the spread of illness in the community.
The WA Health Department advises the influenza vaccine can be co-administered with most other vaccines including the COVID-19 vaccine.
Beyond the period where the WA Government provides the flu shots for free, certain people considered most at risk of severe illness are able to access the vaccines at no cost through the National Immunisation Program.
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