Workers, patients and visitors ‘must’ wear face masks at all NSW public hospitals

Health authorities in NSW have directed all hospital patients, workers and visitors to wear face masks from Friday/

A photo taken outside The Royal Prince Alfred hospital in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

NSW Health has ramped up the fight against coronavirus, directing all healthcare workers, patients and visitors to wear face masks at public hospitals across the state as community transmissions increase.

The directive, effective Friday, decree all staff, visitors and patients who attend public hospitals “must” wear face masks when they cannot maintain a 1.5m distance.

“Given the current context of local transmission, NSW Health has directed all public hospitals that health workers must now wear a surgical mask if they are within 1.5m of patients,” NSW Health said in a statement. “Patients are also required to wear a mask where possible.”

NSW Health secretary Elizabeth Coff said the authority had advised local health districts to introduce the measure and “escalate to a moderate risk level” due to higher levels community transmission.

A picture taken outside the front of Concord Repatriation General Hospital in Sydney on Friday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dylan K Coker

A notice shared with staff from the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District on Friday morning said the change was intended to ensure staff safety.

The changes will also impact visitor numbers, with only one visitor per patient allowed for most cases. Previously, patients in palliative care had been allowed two visitors.

“Within our District, the risk of COVID-19 remains low, with only one locally acquired case without an identified source found within the last month,” the notice stated.

“However, we are cautious in light of the recent NSW trend and will be moving to this precaution in line with the rest of the state … we will also be enforcing mask use for patients and visitors. We will also be tightening the visitor policy back to one defined visitor in most cases.”

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has stopped short of making broader use of face masks compulsory in NSW and said on Monday the decision was a “personal choice”.

Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant has advised residents to wear masks in places where social distancing is not possible.

With NCA NewsWire