Face masks remain in dental practices as Wales lifts final Covid restrictions
Patients who attend dental and medical appointments will still be required to wear face coverings, despite all remaining Covid-19 restrictions being lifted in Wales.
First Minister, Mark Drakeford, confirmed that all regulations would be lifted from Monday 28th March, but a recent rise in cases has prompted caution. While face masks will no longer be required in shops or on public transport, patients who visit hospitals, GP surgeries, dental clinics and other health and social care settings will be required to wear a face mask.
Covid case numbers have been rising quickly across the UK in recent weeks due to the prevalence of the Omicron subvariant BA.2. Mr Drakeford will keep face coverings in health and social care settings to protect the most vulnerable.
It is not yet known when this measure will be lifted. The advice is similar to guidelines in other parts of the UK where most healthcare settings are advising patients and visitors to use face masks.
From March 28th, people who test positive for Covid-19 will no longer be required to isolate. The move brings Wales in line with other UK nations. The legal requirement to isolate was removed several weeks ago in England but guidelines strongly encourage people who do have the virus to avoid mixing with others.
The latest statistics suggest that around 1 in 16 people in Wales and England have Covid. The figure is as low as 1 in 11 people in Scotland. The increased transmissibility of the BA.2 variant is driving surges in case numbers. The most vulnerable groups have been invited for a fourth booster vaccine to top up immunity.
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