The executive agency said there were ‘encouraging signs' but added it was too early to say if flu has peaked.

Dr Alex Allen, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA: ‘With Christmas just around the corner, it's reassuring to see that flu levels are now starting to stabilise, but flu is notoriously unpredictable and can bounce back and peak a second time in the new year and so we're urging people to continue taking sensible steps over the festive period to help stop the spread.'

According to the latest weekly UKHSA data for 8-14 December, flu hospitalisations were stabilising at 10.32 per 100,000 compared with 10.19 per 100,000 in the previous week.

RSV activity showed mixed trends and was circulating at medium levels with the overall weekly hospital admission rate increasing at 3.70 per 100,000 compared with 3.35 per 100,000 in the previous week.

Covid hospitalisations decreasing slightly at 1.02 per 100,000 compared with 1.10 per 100,000 in the previous week.

Flu vaccination stood at: 38.6% in those aged under 65 years with one or more long term health conditions; 36.5% in all pregnant women; 72.8% in all those aged over 65 years; 42.1% in children aged 2 years; and 43.1% in children aged 3 years.