'Assume everyone has coronavirus’: Sheffield care workers told to wear masks at all times

Care workers have been told to wear masks at all times and assume everyone they come into contact with has coronavirus, Sheffield City Council has announced.
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New guidance has been sent out to care providers across the city, ordering workers to wear protective face masks when in contact with all clients.

But one care provider, who was sent the new guidelines, says the new rules go above and beyond Government guidance which says masks need only to be worn with confirmed COVID-19 patients.

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She said: “They are saying that you have to use masks all the time and assume that everyone is infected.

Care workers in Sheffield have been told to wear masks at all time. (Photo: Getty).Care workers in Sheffield have been told to wear masks at all time. (Photo: Getty).
Care workers in Sheffield have been told to wear masks at all time. (Photo: Getty).

“The government says that we don't need to use masks all the time, only with people who have COVID-19 or who are suspected of having it.

“I believe there is a much bigger problem in Sheffield than they are admitting to.

“I spoke to a commissioner and she said that they are expecting a massive wave of cases in the next month because so many people in Sheffield are affected.”

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The guidance, sent out in an email, reads: “Having entered a period of sustained, community transmission, all staff and clients are approached as potentially carrying Covid-19.

“This therefore means where a distance of 2m cannot be maintained a mask is required. As Sheffield has taken the stance that everyone is potentially carrying Covid-19 this is now required.”

She added: “They want us to go further than Government guidance because of how much COVID there is in Sheffield. I don't understand why they have changed the guidance- there must be a problem that they aren't telling anyone about.”

Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care at Sheffield City Council George Lindars-Hammond, said: “To ensure consistency around the use of PPE in a care setting, Sheffield City Council continues to share messages to care providers to make sure that any guidance issued from Public Health England around protective equipment use, is clear on the recommended guidance to all staff working in a local care provider setting.”