All Welsh health boards are now insisting or strongly encouraging people to wear face masks as Covid cases rise again. The First Minister has said there are high sickness or isolating levels impacting health services across Wales.
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (CAVUHB) became the latest to announce the reintroduction of face masks in all settings for both staff and patients from 1pm on Monday, July 4, and was effective immediately. In the Hywel Dda health board area, visits to patients at Withbush Hospital area also being restricted because of Covid.
Patients have also been asked to socially distance where possible to help minimise the spread at a number of health boards.
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Wales saw a sharp rise in its Covid infection rate likely to be driven by the Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5, new data has revealed. The latest update from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that one in 30 people in Wales, around 3.35% of the population, had the virus during the week ending June 24. What do you think about the reintroduction of masks? Let us know in the comments.
Lateral flow tests continue to be available to members of the public who are showing symptoms of coronavirus – such as a high temperature, a new continuous cough, or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste. See the latest official list of Covid symptoms here.
The latest from each health board.
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
Rules were updated from June 21 in ABUHB. Their website reads: "Due to the increasing prevalence of Covid-19 in the community, the increased number of Covid-19 ward outbreaks and the numbers of staff absent with Covid-19, we are asking all hospital staff and visitors to wear masks in clinical areas, with immediate effect (normal exemption rules apply). Thank you for your support and co-operation in reducing the risk to our patients and staff. We will continue to review the Covid-19 position in hospital and community settings, and will update accordingly."
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
From June 28, people using services at Betsi Cadwaladr have been asked to wear masks in all clinical areas. "Due to increased Covid-19 prevalence in our communities, increased number of Covid-19 ward outbreaks and the impact this is having on staff absence, we ask all staff, patients and visitors to support us by wearing face masks in all clinical areas in all health and care settings, unless exempt. This includes all areas where patients receive care such as hospital wards and in clinics. While it may no longer be law, wearing a mask will help protect vulnerable people."
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
The health board said that from July 4: "Due to a continuing rise in the prevalence of COVID-19 in our communities, healthcare staff and visitors are now required to wear a face covering in all our settings unless exempt."
A spokesperson for CAVUHB said: "Due to a continuing rise in the prevalence of COVID-19 in our communities, healthcare staff and visitors are now required to wear a face covering in all our settings unless exempt. Please follow this guidance to help us reduce the impact of COVID-19 on our patients, workforce and services. In addition to wearing a face covering, it is important to continue to maintain social distancing where possible.
"Thank you for your continued support and co-operation at this time. We continue to regularly review our guidance based on prevalence in our communities and our hospitals. "
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
Since 5pm on June 23, patients, our staff and visitors, we are now asking all hospital staff and visitors to wear face masks in all areas of all Cwm Taf hospitals people are also asked to maintain social distancing as much as you possibly can.
"Our teams will review the situation on a daily basis. If you are visiting any of our sites, please be prepared to answer the questions our staff will ask you as part of the visitor checklist they need to carry out, when you contact us to book your slot. Please be aware, if we close wards due to Covid-19, during the closure we will have to revert those wards to essential visiting only. This is to protect our most vulnerable."
Hywel Dda
Following a formal review of activity in its hospitals, Hywel Dda University Health Board has reinstated a number of measures at Withybush Hospital due to an increasing prevalence of COVID-19 from 5pm on Monday, July 4.
- All staff and visitors to Withybush Hospital to wear face masks (unless exempt) on the hospital site.
- Visiting to inpatients/wards to be paused from Tuesday 5 July, except for end-of-life visits and any visits considered necessary through agreement with the ward sister/charge nurse. Visits planned for Monday 4 July will proceed as planned.
- People attending an outpatient appointment to attend alone unless they require the support of a carer/relative. A designated partner can attend antenatal appointments or scans and when a mother or birthing person is admitted in labour to the Midwifery-led Unit
- Testing of all patients prior to admission
Mandy Rayani, Director of Nursing, Quality and Patient Experience, said: “We have made the decision to reinforce these measures at Withybush Hospital to reduce the risk to our patients and staff and thank people for their support and co-operation at this time. While the situation at Withybush Hospital and across our other hospital sites will be reviewed and updated frequently, we can all continue to take protective measures to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 to protect vulnerable people and the NHS.
"We strongly advise anyone in our locality who has the classic symptoms of COVID-19, or who suspects they may have COVID-19 to isolate and take an LFD test. If positive, we urge people to isolate – this will help you to rest and recover while protecting others from the risk of transmission."
Powys Teaching Health Board
Wearing masks is "strongly encouraged" in this health board area.
Claire Roche, Executive Director of Nursing for the health board, said: "Patient and staff safety is our first priority, which is why we now strongly encourage all patients and visitors to wear face coverings, to continue to wash their hands frequently, and to respect social distancing when visiting our sites. All staff members working in clinical areas in patient-facing roles will also be wearing face masks and will continue other infection prevention and control measures. This will help keep our patients, visitors and staff members as protected as possible from the potential spread of Covid-19."
The new policy will apply to in-patients, those that attend out-patient clinics or have a procedure performed, those that attend primary care settings such as visiting their GP, attending our Minor Injury Units, or those that attend our Birthing Centres. All members of the community nursing and health visiting teams that visit patients in their own homes or places of residence will wear face masks and follow other infection prevention and control measures.
"These measures are in addition to the health board’s plea to members of the public to be infection aware," said Ms Roche. "We respectfully ask that no one enters any of our sites if they are feeling unwell, have symptoms associated with any respiratory infection such as COVID-19 and flu, or are experiencing cold-like symptoms, diarrhoea and vomiting, fever or have a rash. In such an instance call NHS 111 Wales or consult your GP for advice. If you are severely unwell dial 999 without delay. We will review our guidance when community infection levels reduce and it is appropriate to do so," she said.
Swansea Bay University Health Board
The latest from this health board says: "Due to the rising prevalence of COVID-19 in our communities, we strongly encourage healthcare staff and visitors to wear a face covering in all of our settings, particularly in clinical areas and those with high footfall. Please exercise a common-sense approach and personal responsibility to help us reduce the impact of COVID-19 on our patients, workforce and services. In addition to wearing a face covering, it is important to continue to maintain social distancing where possible. Thank you for your continued support and co-operation at this time. We continue to regularly review our advice based on prevalence in our communities and our hospitals."
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