Face masks return at hospitals and health hubs in Derry and the west amid virus surge
The Western Trust has announced that all visitors, staff and patients are required to wear face masks at some hospital areas and other health care facilities for the first time since the pandemic, due to ‘high levels’ of respiratory illness in circulation.
The announcement comes amid a sharp increase in cases of Influenza, Covid and other viruses over recent weeks.
In a statement, the Western Trust advised: “Due to high levels of respiratory illness circulating in the community, all staff, patients and visitors to our Emergency Departments, ward/ clinical areas where additional infection control measures are required, Community Settings and Treatment Rooms, are being asked to wear face masks.
“We would also like to take the opportunity to remind the public that they should not visit hospital or community settings if they or any of their family at home has vomiting, diarrhoea, coughs, cold, flu or any other infectious conditions. Please wait until at least 48 hours or two days from symptoms have ended before you visit the hospital.”
In the week to December 4 there were 1,152 attendances at Altnagelvin Hospital’s Emergency Department, with 248 waiting more than 12 hours.
Hand hygiene, the Trust said, is “the most important method” of preventing and controlling the spread of infections.
"It is extremely important that all visitors wash their hands with liquid soap and water before and after visiting. Alcohol hand sanitiser can also be used,” the Trust has advised.
The Punblic Health Agency meanwhile has said that the latest respiratory report for the north shows that flu activity “has increased across all groups and settings that are monitored”, with hospital admissions rising significantly.
The Public Health Agency has now issued a fresh appeal urging everyone who is eligible for flu vaccination to take up the offer ‘without delay’.
In Donegal, Letterkenny University Hospital has also reported “a sharp increase in flu cases in the community” and has introduced new infection control measures, including offering face masks.