A hospital trust has "strongly urged" patients and visitors to wear face masks in its clinical areas amid a rise in flu and other winter viruses. While people were not required to wear them in non-clinical areas,

With flu cases surging and yet to peak some are asking whether face masks should be made mandatory again to help reduce its spread. The wearing of face coverings was a legal requirement at the height of the Covid pandemic. Donning a face mask now is a personal choice, though some settings might still insist on them.

Face masks have been reintroduced at in some clinical areas at hospitals across County Durham and Teesside amid a surge in winter flu numbers.

Leighton Hospital has "strongly urged" patients and visitors to wear face masks in clinical areas amid a rise in cases of seasonal viruses - including flu, norovirus, RSV and Covid. The reintroduction of face masks in these areas comes into force today (January 9).