Mask Wearing Returns

Friday, 22 July 2022 09:34

By Lee Everest @laeverest

Protect yourself and others by wearing a mask in healthcare settings

The NHS in Sussex is calling on people to help to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by reintroducing mask wearing in all clinical health services.

As cases increase across the country and in our communities, all NHS organisations in Sussex have agreed to reintroduce mask wearing for staff, patients and visitors from today, Wednesday 07 July.

It applies to all clinical settings – from consulting rooms, to hospital wards, to outpatient departments.

The latest data shows that people testing positive in England for COVID-19 has increased by 33.3% compared to the previous seven days, and 1 in 30 people are currently testing positive in England. Locally rates for East Sussex are slightly lower than this but Brighton & Hove and West Sussex are slightly higher (Data correct for 24 June, as published on 1 July).

To help to reduce the spread of the virus and protect those most vulnerable in hospital, patients, visitors and staff are all being asked to wear a mask where required and to continue to clean hands on entering any health facilities and as often as possible using soap and water or hand sanitiser.

Kerry Lloyd, Deputy Chief Nurse at NHS Sussex, said:

"With COVID-19 on the increase in our communities, we are asking people to please wear a mask when you are in a clinical healthcare setting.

“Our services are looking after people at their most vulnerable and we need to do all we can to protect them and to look after the staff who are there to care for them.

“We hope that people will support us with this and together we can do all that we can to protect each other and our patients.”

We will continue to keep this updated guidance under review.