The legal requirement to wear face masks in health and social facilities will remain in force for another three weeks. But the rule, which means businesses must perform specific coronavirus risk assessments, will end on Monday (April 18th).
Announcing the results of the latest review of the Welsh government, which was announced early on Banking Day, Welsh Prime Minister Mark Drakeford said the decision to keep masks in healthcare facilities was to “help control the spread of coronavirus. places where some of the most vulnerable people in our society are treated and live. ”
Mr Drakeford said: “Maintaining face covers in health and social care will help control the spread of coronavirus in places where some of the most vulnerable people in our society are being treated and live, while helping to protect staff. We are maintaining this specific requirement as we continue with our gradual and cautious approach to going beyond the emergency response and away from the legal protections that have been in place for the last two years. You can get more news about Covid and other story updates by subscribing to our newsletters here.
Read more:Mark Drakeford said Boris Johnson “clearly broke the law”
“This does not mean that the pandemic is over. Unfortunately, the coronavirus is still with us – we have seen a jump in infections in the last month, with a large number of people getting sick and a jump in hospitalization. We hope to start turning the corner. But it is really important that 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 beginning of the pandemic. Together we can keep Wales safe and enjoy a brighter future. “
The latest Covid data for Wales is due to be released on Thursday, April 13th. We have reviewed all the latest data from a number of sources and you can read about it here.
The move to preserve masks in healthcare facilities will be welcomed by the BMA, which said it would be “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 covers in health and social care in the forthcoming review of Welsh government restrictions would be extremely reckless at this time. Many of our patients, due to the pure nature of health and social services, are extremely vulnerable and we know that Covid-19 still poses a significant risk to them.
“Similarly, because infection rates are still too high, first-line medical staff remain under pressure when colleagues test positive and are required to isolate themselves to protect others.
Dr Bailey also called for the reintroduction of assessments in healthcare facilities. “Now must also be the time for the Welsh Government to reassess the importance of health and safety risk assessments for both healthcare professionals and the environment. Although they were introduced at the beginning of the pandemic, we now know much more about the virus than we did then, and these assessments also need to be updated to ensure the safety of staff at work. “
The first minister reiterated five tips to stop the spread of Covid:
- Stay home (isolate yourself) if you are sick or have a positive coronavirus test
- Wear a face mask in crowded indoor public places
- Meet outdoors where possible and make sure indoor areas are well ventilated if you meet indoors
- Take extra precautions when visiting vulnerable people. Avoid contact with them if possible if you have any symptoms of a respiratory infection
- Wash your hands regularly and cover coughing and sneezing
Find out about coronavirus cases in your area:
Read more related articles Read more related articles
Add Comment