Covid: Sheffield hospital trust returns to masks as cases soar

Patients and visitors to Sheffield hospitals are being asks to don masks again

A hospital trust is asking visitors and patients to return to wearing face masks, as Covid and flu cases rise.

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said Covid cases had "risen significantly" over the last few weeks, both locally and nationally.

People were also asked to sanitise their hands, keep their distance and avoid visiting if they had viral symptoms.

Managers said "precautionary measures" were needed to limit infection spread.

A spokesperson for the trust, which runs sites including Northern General Hospital, 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 a member of staff if you do not have a mask and they will provide you with one."

They added the request applied to all its hospitals and community hubs.

According to Government data for England, there has been an upward trend in the number of people testing positive for Covid since July, although cases have decreased in recent days.