MASKS will no longer be required in Barnsley Hospital’s most clinical and non-clinical areas.

The reintroduction of face masks was brought in earlier this year due to the rise in Covid cases.

However, these rules have now been scrapped for the time being due to a reducing seven-day case rate for the virus.

Jackie Murphy, the hospital’s director of nursing and quality, said: “We have taken a decision to remove our requirement for staff and patients to wear a face masks while in most clinical, non-clinical and non-clinical areas.

“There could however be circumstances which will lead to a recommendation for mask wearing to be reintroduced either in specific locations, or throughout the trust in the future.

“We will clearly communicate this if we feel we need to take action to control infection rates.”