As Covid Cases Rise, Mask-wearing Returns In UK; Hospitals Ask People To Take Precautions
Mask use returns as hospitals in the UK urge people to care as COVID cases rise.
A spike in Covid cases has led health officials and hospitals to restart steps to stop the virus's spread. Mask use has increased again as hospitals urge individuals to take the required steps to lessen the burden on healthcare systems.
What Is Happening In The UK?
The United Kingdom is seeing a spike in Covid cases, and experts are asking people to take precautions and stay at home.
Following a "significant" increase in Covid cases, four hospitals have requested that all staff, visitors, and patients wear face masks in all clinical areas.
Teaching Hospitals in Sheffield Anyone accessing the premises of the NHS Foundation Trust, which runs four hospitals in the city, must now cover their face to stop the spread of infection.
Chelsea and Westminster NHS Trust in West London and other NHS trusts around the nation made judgments along a similar line.
When Did This Start?
In the week leading up to October 14, more than 12,100 new instances of Covid were reported, according to the most recent UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) statistics. Although less than the 16,564 cases reported in the seven days leading up to October 2, it is still much higher than in the summer.
According to Laura Challinor, senior policy and public affairs manager at Blood Cancer UK, "Routine testing in healthcare settings should now be reinstated to monitor and mitigate the risk of COVID-19 for people with weakened immune systems as we go into autumn with COVID-19 cases rising and the uncertainty of a new variant."
Why Have Experts Asked People To Take Precautions?
Individual trusts may choose their mask-wearing practices based on the infection rate in their region, according to national NHS guidance.
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust imposed the rule at Northern General Hospital, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Charles Clifford Dental Hospital, and Weston Park Hospital after noticing an upsurge in cases in and around the South Yorkshire city.
The trust issued the following statement: "In addition to our personnel, visitors, outpatients, and anybody accompanying them are requested to wear masks in all clinical areas, and anywhere they will be in close contact with others for extended periods of time.
How Are People In The UK Taking Precautions?
"If you do not have a mask, kindly ask the staff, and they will give it to you," the statement said.
"Additionally, we are requesting that anyone entering one of our hospitals or community centres wash their hands before entering, keep their distance from other people, and refrain from visiting if they are sick with viral symptoms like a cough, cold, or fever."
In an effort to stop the spread of respiratory illnesses, Stafford's County Hospital and Royal Stoke University Hospital reinstated face mask regulations earlier this month.
In order to protect vulnerable patients, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton also announced that mask-wearing would resume in their emergency rooms and admissions units.
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