Guidance on masks has been updated

WALES’ Health Minister Vaughan Gething has updated the official guidance on the use of face masks during the coronavirus pandemic.

He confirmed that he accepted the recommendations made by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on June 5 and had added new guidelines around the use of medical masks in health and social care.

Mr Gething said: The Chief Medical Officer has confirmed that, as previously, medical grade masks should be reserved for use during the direct care of patients or residents, following the Infection Prevention and Control guidance agreed across the UK.

The Chief Medical Officer is clear also there is insufficient evidence to support the wearing of medical masks by workers in non-clinical settings. It remains of paramount importance that health and social care staff observe social distancing in all situations, while adhering to good hand and respiratory hygiene practices. In Wales, health and social care organisations are under a legal duty to ensure that social distancing is possible. Clearly, should there be exceptional circumstances in which social distancing is impossible, staff must be able to wear a medical mask should they wish to.”

He has previously announced the Welsh Government recommends the wearing of face coverings by the public in situations where social distancing cannot be maintained.

At the weekend, Mr Gething added that he accepted that medical masks have a place for the protection of the vulnerable in higher risk settings. He said: “I have agreed that shielded people in Wales should wear a medical mask, should they have to enter any health or social care facility, although this need should be minimised where possible. When other members of the public need to enter such facilities, they can of course wear a face covering if they wish to.”