Hospital trust implements ‘precautionary measures’, asking visitors to wear face masks again, amid spike in flu and covid cases

A hospital trust has asked staff, patients and visitors to return to wearing face masks due to a rise in Covid and flu cases.

Local and national cases of Covid had increased ‘significantly’ over the last few weeks, said health bosses in Sheffield.

They are also recommending that patients and visitors sanitise their hands, keep their distance and stay away if they had viral symptoms.

Sheffield Health bosses are urging hospital visitors to wear facemasks again amid an uptick of flu and covid cases. (Stock photo)

They are also recommending that patients and visitors sanitise their hands. (Stock photo) 

The measures applying to all hospitals and community hubs covered by the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust were described as ‘precautionary’ and came into effect last Friday.

The trust’s website states: ‘Along with our staff, visitors, outpatients and anyone accompanying them are asked to wear masks in all clinical areas and anywhere they will be in close contact with others for longer periods of time.

‘Please ask staff if you do not have a mask and they will provide you with one.’

Official data says there has been an upward trend in the numbers testing positive for Covid since July although this has started to fall recently.