New virus rules in NHS waiting rooms

Patients no longer need to be distanced from one another in GP surgeries and hospital waiting rooms, according to new NHS guidance.

NHS organisations in England have been instructed to "return to pre-pandemic physical distancing in all areas" – but people will still be encouraged to wear face masks.

The new guidance covers "all areas" including emergency departments and other hospital settings, ambulances, patient transport services and GP surgeries.

The move follows Covid-19 infections on England falling for the first time in six weeks.

Last week, The Office of National Satustics (ONS) said 3.8million people were likely to have had coronavirus in the week to April 9 – around one in 14 people.

This was down from the 4.1 million recorded the previous week, when the infection rate was one in 13 but infection rates remain high all over the country,

The guidance also says that patients and staff should continue to practice good hand and respiratory hygiene, including the continued use of face masks by staff and face masks/coverings by visitors and patients".

In a letter to local health leaders, NHS England bosses state that the service needs to "adapt" to operating with Covid-19 in "general circulation and with the virus likely to remain endemic for some time to come".

The new infection guidance also comes as the NHS has been working to tackle the backlog of care exacerbated by the pandemic.

The number of people in England waiting to start routine hospital treatment has risen to a record 6.2million.