Covid: Northamptonshire hospitals limit visits and reintroduce facemasks

Hospital visitors are being asked to wear facemasks and limit their time on wards to help prevent the spread of Covid, two NHS trusts said.

Kettering and Northampton general hospitals, in Northamptonshire, have made facemasks mandatory for all visitors to wards and clinical areas.

Visiting inpatients has been restricted to one visitor for one hour a day.

The changes follow an increase in Covid cases in hospital and in the community, both trusts added.

The guidance follows a rise in coronavirus infections across the UK.

More on rising Covid cases:

• 'It's too simple to say it is all about children'

• Pupils with suspected Covid urged to stay at home

• Covid is rising again - should we worry?

Visiting restrictions differed for child patients and the neo-natal and maternity wards.

"Reasonable adjustments" would be put in place for patients with additional needs such as dementia and learning disabilities, the trusts added.

Where possible, outpatients should not bring another person with them to an appointment or to accident and emergency, the hospitals said.