Masks must be worn in health and care settings for further three weeks

THE legal requirement to wear face coverings in health and social care settings will remain in place for another three weeks after the Welsh Government’s latest Covid review.

However, a rule that means businesses have to carry out specific coronavirus risk assessments will end on Monday.

Announcing the results of the review early due to the bank holiday, First Minister Mark Drakeford said the decision to keep masks in healthcare settings was to “help to control the spread of coronavirus in places where some of the most vulnerable people in our society are being treated and live”.

Mr Drakeford said: “Retaining face coverings in health and social care settings will help to control the spread of coronavirus in places where some of the most vulnerable people in our society are being treated and live, while also helping to protect staff.

“We’re keeping this specific requirement in place while we continue with our gradual and cautious approach towards moving beyond the emergency response and away from the legal protections which have been in place for the last two years.

“This doesn’t mean the pandemic is over. Unfortunately coronavirus is still with us – we’ve seen a spike in infections over the last month, with large numbers of people falling ill and a surge in hospital admissions.

“We hope we are beginning to turn the corner. But it’s really important we all continue to take steps to protect ourselves and each other.

“Everything we do can and does make a difference to the people around us – just as it has since the start of the pandemic.

“Together we can keep Wales safe and enjoy a brighter future.”

The move to keep masks in healthcare settings will be welcomed by the British Medical Association, who said it would have been “reckless” to remove the requirement to wear masks in this review.

Speaking before the announcement, Dr David Bailey said: “Any removal of the legal requirement for face coverings in health and social care settings at Welsh Government’s upcoming restriction review would be extremely reckless at this time.

“Many of our patients, by the sheer nature of the health and social care services, are extremely vulnerable; and we know that Covid-19 is still a significant risk to them. Equally, with levels of infection still too high, frontline healthcare staff remain under pressure when colleagues test positive and are required to isolate to keep others safe.”

Dr Bailey also called for assessments to be reintroduced in healthcare settings.

The First Minister has repeated five pieces of advice to stop the spread of Covid:

Stay at home (self-isolate) if you are ill or if you test positive for coronavirus;

wear a face covering in crowded indoor public places;

meet outdoors where possible and ensure indoor areas are well ventilated if meeting indoors;

take additional precautions when visiting vulnerable people – avoid meeting them if possible if you have any symptoms of a respiratory infection; and

wash hands regularly and cover coughs and sneezes.