The number of staff absent from work with Covid-19 has started to rise again.
Hospitals in England have started to reintroduce compulsory mark wearing for patients and staff amid rising Covid-19 cases.
Four NHS trusts in England have implemented the measures; Cambridge University Hospitals, North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, Torbay and South Devon Hospitals and Sherwood Forest Hospitals.
While the decision seems contrary to guidance issued by NHS England, which told NHS organisations to relax mask-wearing rules, the guidance permitted staff to limit “universal” mask-wearing to high-risk areas but encouraged trusts to undertake risk assessments.
At the start of June, the number of daily new cases was around 5,000; this has since jumped to nearly 50,000 cases on June 28. Figures for hospital admissions also follow a similar trend, with the number of people in hospital with Covid-19 more than doubling in the same period.
Decisive action
Sherwood Forest Hospitals says is needed to take “decisive action” to protect patients, visitors and staff.
In a statement, Phil Bolton, Chief Nurse for Sherwood Forest Hospitals, explained, “At the time we cautiously stepped-down the requirement to wear a mask we said we’d keep transmission rates under constant review and reintroduce measures if necessary.
“As cases have risen, it’s vital that we take decisive action to protect our most vulnerable patients, visitors and colleagues to ensure we can keep vital services running for all those that need them over the coming weeks.”
“We’d like to thank everyone for their continued support and ask everyone to wear a mask when asked to do so across our hospitals.”
Cambridge University Hospitals warned it already had 158 staff off with Covid rising from 37 just a week earlier. Other hospitals and wider NHS organisations are widely expected to follow suit as Covid cases continue to rise.
