Patients, visitors, and staff are once again being told to wear face masks in hospitals across the UK, due to the surge in COVID-19 cases.
From 5 July, anyone going to sites run by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will be asked to wear a face covering. Additionally, all of Wales’ seven health boards are either insisting on or encouraging the use of face masks during hospital visits.
Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, has reintroduced a ban on visitors due to an increase in cases. The Welsh hospital paused visits for patients from Tuesday 5 July, except for end-of-life situations, and masks must now be worn by all on the site.
Hywel Dda University Health Board in the west and mid-Wales is the latest to require the use of masks, following a rise in COVID-19 infections. The board has also announced that outpatients must attend appointments alone unless they need the support of a carer or relative, and all patients must be tested for COVID-19 before they are admitted to the hospital.
Aneurin Bevan asked people to stay away from its hospitals unless “absolutely necessary” due to “extreme pressure”. Wales has seen a rise in infections in the last month with one in 30 people testing positive, according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS). Most recent figures still show that 88% of patients testing positive for COVID-19 are primarily being treated for something else.
Trust bosses for Sheffield Teaching Hospitals say both COVID-19 cases in the community and hospital admissions are on the rise.
Medical director Dr. Jennifer Hill commented: “We have been closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation and, although we are sorry that we have had to take this step again, we believe it is important for us to act given the increase in COVID-19 incidence.
“We ask everyone coming onto our sites to please make sure they wear a mask.
“We are very grateful for the continued public support and will continue to keep the situation under review.”