An NHS Trust has ordered its patients and visitors to wear face masks once more as Covid cases begin to creep back up.
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS foundation Trust updated its rules due to a recent spike in the number of positive Covid tests.
This means Cheltenham General and Gloucestershire Royal Hospital patients and visitors must abide by the strict new rules.
Masks must be worn in adult inpatient areas but are not mandatory in non-patient facing areas, children’s and maternity wards and outpatient areas, the Trust said.
Alongside applying to the two main hospitals, the rules apply to a number of smaller community facilities.
A statement released on their website reads: "We are continuously monitoring the COVID-19 situation in our hospitals and in our communities. We are currently seeing an increase in the number of cases and this is rising quickly.
"In response to this we are implementing the following: All patient, staff and visitors must wear masks in all adult Inpatient areas from today, September 20, 2022.
“Inpatients will be offered a mask to wear and encouraged to do so if they are able to tolerate one.
“In non-patient facing areas, children’s and maternity inpatient wards and outpatient areas there is no mandate for universal masking but patients, visitors and staff may wear masks if they wish.
"Masks are provided at all our entrances. Please do not attend our hospitals if you are displaying symptoms of COVID-19, other respiratory infection or illness."
This comes as Covid hospitalisations rose 17 per cent in one week ahead of the coming winter.
As in line with the previous two cold seasons, there is an expectation that the coming months will see a resurgence amongst Covid rates.
In the week leading up to September 19, hospitalisations in England were up 581 people - 16.9 per cent.
This was matched by a nearly 13 per cent rise in positive tests across the country. In the week leading up to September 17, 3,176 more Brits tested positive.
Deaths fell over the same period, but due to the natural time lag between infections, hospitalisations and dying, Covid infection patterns often act as a precursor to that of deaths.
Across the UK, there is a varied picture even as Covid rates remain generally low.
Wales is showing markedly lower rates than the rest of the country according to the Government dashboard.
The country is showing an incredibly low case rate of around 0-9 new cases per 100,000 people over a seven day period.
Around Cheltenham General Hospital there are pockets of Covid spikes where rates reach as high as 200-399 new cases per 100,000 people.
Across the rest of England and Scotland levels remain mostly consistent around 50-99 new cases for East England, most of the Midlands and north east.
Most of Scotland has similar infection levels.
There are pockets of slightly lower rates around the capital, spreading towards Birmingham and in the north west around Manchester and further east to Leeds.
Parts of the Scottish coast also have this lower rate of 10-49 new cases per 100,000 people.
