VISITORS and patients attending appointments in clinics, wards, hospitals and GP practices across Worcestershire must continue to wear face masks to protect other patients and visitors.
Despite changes to national guidance the rules for NHS premises remain in place. This means visitors and patients attending appointments continuing to wear an approved face mask which are provided on entrance, maintaining social distancing where possible, and practicing good hand hygiene.
Visiting restrictions also remain in place at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital, the Alexandra Hospital, Kidderminster Hospital and Treatment Centre, Hereford County Hospital and Bromyard, Leominster and Ross-on-Wye community hospitals and Worcestershire’s Community Hospitals in Wyre Forest, Worcester, Tenbury, Evesham, Malvern, Bromsgrove (the Princess of Wales) and Pershore.
Bus and train users in Worcestershire are still being urged to use masks when on public transport.
The advice is based on Government guidance which says people are ‘expected and strongly recommended to use face coverings on buses and trains’.
The lifting of restrictions, and the gradual return to the office for many local people over the summer, mean that residents will begin to make regular journeys they would have done before the pandemic.
Worcestershire County Council strongly urges passengers to use public transport for these journeys, adding it is determined to ensure that these services are safe for all to use.
The high volume of consultation responses received as part of the Worcestershire Passenger Transport Strategy pre-pandemic shows how vital the local transport network is to so many residents both within Worcestershire and our neighbouring counties.
Coun Alan Amos, cabinet member for Highways and Transport said: “Our residents have been fantastic at playing their part in keeping case numbers down during the pandemic and I would urge them to continue.
“Therefore, it is imperative that all passengers wear a face a covering on public transport in order to both protect themselves and others.
“We need to our support bus drivers to do their job and not need to step in to sort out disputes and being distracted.
“This latest lifting of restrictions is a real opportunity for us to take advantage of our local transport network and the services it offers.
“We know how vital the local transport network is to our residents as many of them engaged with us throughout the Passenger Transport Strategy consultation.
“We are determined to do everything we can to ensure that bus travel is safe and people are confident in using the services.
“Most bus journeys are short and we are all well used to wearing face covering therefore, please do the right thing by continuing to wearing face coverings to keep you and those around you safe and be considerate of others.”
