FACE MASKS will be reintroduced at St Mary's Hospital and other Isle of Wight Trust buildings, from tomorrow (Friday, July 8), following a rise in Covid-19 cases.

All patients, staff and visitors will be asked to wear a face mask in all public and clinical areas.

Karen Robinson, associate director of nursing, deputy director of infection prevention and control for Isle of Wight NHS Trust, said: “The safety of our patients, staff and the wider community remains our top priority.

“As a result of increasing cases in the community and in hospital, we are reintroducing mask-wearing at all Trust sites to help reduce the rate of transmission.”

The Trust followed national guidance 19 days ago and relaxed Covid precautions, including the mandatory wearing of face masks.

However, the latest Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5 are highly transmissible, so steps are being taken to help reduce the spread of infection to protect our vulnerable patients, staff and the services provided.