Covid: Doctors call for face masks to stay in healthcare settings

Face masks should still be used in healthcare settings, even if restrictions are eased elsewhere, the head of a doctors' group has said.

The Welsh government is under pressure from some after Boris Johnson said English restrictions could end in July.

British Medical Association Wales chairman, Dr David Bailey, said removing all rules would be the "wrong way to go" for healthcare settings.

He called for "flexibility" over future face mask rules.

Dr Bailey, a GP in Caerphilly, said he would continue to wear a mask in the supermarket and on public transport, but there was not a necessity to wear them outside.

He said: "I don't think we need to be perhaps quite as worried about it as we were six months ago because most of us are vaccinated and because there's much less likelihood of getting ill.

"So I think there does need to be a bit of flexibility and it looks likely that it won't be mandatory in the future."

Dr Bailey added that it was "reasonable" to reduce the amount of social distancing, but rejected a complete relaxation of the rules.

The Welsh government will announce any changes to Covid rules at its next review on 15 July.

"I think we would certainly strongly suggest that would be the wrong way to go in healthcare settings," he said.

"It's important, I think, to make sure that in healthcare settings we do try and continue to use face coverings."

Concerns have been raised about potential different rules in England and Wales, particularly by businesses on the border.

"Face masks shouldn't cause any problem at all on the borders," he said, urging the Welsh government to be "sensible and cautious".

Dr Bailey added: "The things that don't actually impact on getting on with your life, why not do them anyway?

"They've been proven to help and there is still a lot of Covid in the community."

Wales' overall case rate has been increasing and was at 117 cases per 100,000 people on Thursday, which is still lower than all other UK nations and English regions.

There has been a slight rise in the average number of patients with confirmed Covid in hospital beds.

However, hospital admissions for patients with confirmed and suspected Covid remain low - a daily average of seven, which is 0.6% of all hospital admissions.

GPs themselves have been starting to see more patients with Covid symptoms.

The consultation rate - which has been one of the wider measures used by health officials to assess the progress of Covid - has risen to a level not seen since March, according to the most recent Public Health Wales figures.