An NHS hospital has reintroduced mask-wearing in all clinical areas following a “significant” rise in Covid cases.
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust explained that anyone entering its hospitals and community hubs would need to wear a face mask to prevent spread.
In a statement, the Trust said: “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.
“We are also asking that anyone coming into our hospitals or community hubs please sanitise their hands, keep their distance from others and avoid visiting if unwell with viral symptoms such as cough, cold or fever.”
Currently, individual trusts can set their own mask-wearing protocols based on the infection rate in their area.
Dr Chris Papadopoulos, Principal Lecturer in Public Health at the University of Bedfordshire, told Express.co.uk that this move is “both prudent and responsible”.
The professor said: “The Trust appears to be prioritising the health and safety of its staff and patients, which should always be the paramount concern in healthcare settings.
“Hospitals are high-risk environments where many different people, including those who are vulnerable or immunocompromised, come together.
“Therefore, the re-introduction of masks serves as an additional layer of protection for both staff and the general public.
“This measure serves as a timely reminder that, despite the progress of vaccination campaigns and other preventive measures, the threat of Covid remains significant, particularly with the emergence of more transmissible variants like Pirola.”
Furthermore, the expert shared that people should also consider wearing face coverings in other social settings.
With the weather taking a turn for the worse, more people are likely to spend time indoors where the risk of Covid transmission can increase.
Fortunately, masks can serve as an “additional line of defence” when you are in close proximity to others in enclosed spaces with poor ventilation, the professor explained.
Dr Papadopoulos added: “Their use can be particularly valuable in venues like public transport, shops and supermarkets, and even some outdoor settings where social distancing may be challenging.
“Masks act as a barrier that reduces the number of respiratory droplets emitted into the air when talking, coughing, or sneezing, thereby lowering the risk of viral spread.
“They can also protect the wearer from inhaling droplets expelled by others, offering a form of mutual protection.”
The expert recommended reaching for “high-quality” masks like N95 or FFP2/FFP3 that have multiple protective layers.