Royal Stoke University Hospital made mask-wearing once again mandatory as of Monday (1 July) following a rise in Covid-19 cases.
All patients, visitors, and staff members have since been required to wear face-covering in wards and clinical areas.
Visitors who suffer from respiratory illness have been asked not to enter the hospital to shield themselves.
According to The University of North Midlands NHS Trust, this decision was made following a rise in positive cases recorded in June. The trust also claims that multiple variants are currently circulating.
108 inpatients had the virus last week, which triggered the trust’s risk assessment process. Those who tested positive are currently isolating in side rooms.
chief nurse at Royal Stoke Anne Marie Riley stated: “It’s the right thing to do to protect everybody so hopefully it won’t be for very long.”
All ward and clinical area entrances will have masks and hand gel ready to give out to visitors.
According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Covid cases were up by 33.5% in June.
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Experienced writer and journalist James McKean leads the daily editorial output at StaffsLive. To contact him, email news@staffslive.co.uk