PEOPLE are being asked to continue wearing face masks when they visit hospitals in Bradford after July 19.

From Monday, the legal requirement to wear face coverings in enclosed public spaces will end, but people are being urged to continue using them in certain situations.

Face coverings being mandatory, limits on social gatherings and requirements for social distancing will all come to an end from Monday as step four of the roadmap out of lockdown comes into force.

But people are being urged to remain cautious and courteous despite the removal of rules, especially given the huge surge in cases in the past two weeks driven by the Delta variant, which has also seen hospital admissions in the district more than double from a month ago.

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is asking people to continue to wear face masks when they visit its facilities to protect the "extremely vulnerable" people in its care.

Karen Dawber, Chief Nurse at Bradford Teaching Hospitals, said: “We appreciate you might not be wearing a face mask outside, but when you come into any of our hospitals, we still ask that you continue to wear a mask, that you use the alcohol gel found at the ward entrance and again when you leave the ward or department after your visit.

“In our hospitals please keep to the social distancing rules, follow the one-way lines on our corridors and ensure you remember: hands, face, space.

“It is important and right that we protect our patients – many of whom are extremely clinically vulnerable - from any risk of catching COVID-19 while they are in hospital.
"We also need to protect our colleagues as they are vital in maintaining patient care.”

The leader of Bradford Council Susan Hinchcliffe is also urging people to be cautious to limit the spread of Covid and ease pressure on the NHS.

She said: “As restrictions are lifted many of us will be able to enjoy the extra freedoms, but our message to people across the district is to continue to remain cautious.

"Covid-19 has not gone away and case numbers are still high and rising rapidly.

"Many people are still feeling anxious about Covid and the lifting of these restrictions, especially those who are clinically extremely vulnerable and those who have not yet had the opportunity to have both doses of the vaccine.

"We want to encourage everyone to give others space, wear a mask in high risk places, get tested and isolate if you are unwell, mix outside if possible or let the air in if indoors and get both doses of the vaccine.

“Hospitals also continue to work under very challenging conditions with admissions still rising so we really do need people to get both doses of the vaccine as soon as they can, it does lower the risk of Covid but remember you can still catch it and pass it on to those around you. 

“We want thank everyone for sticking to the restrictions over the past year and a half, it’s been a difficult time for everyone but we still need stay safe and protect our loved ones.”