People are being told to wear masks again when visiting hospitals as Covid infection rates have started climbing.

East Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, which operates Royal Blackburn Hospital, Burnley General Hospital and Accrington Victoria Community Hospital, has said it will be mandatory to wear masks in all settings as of today (October 5).

A statement published by the trust reads: “Further to the update we shared recently on mask wearing across our sites, a decision has now been made to reintroduce face masks in all clinical and non-clinical areas across all sites and settings.

“This change has been agreed as the trust continues to manage an escalation of Covid infection rates in the community and within our settings and services.”

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust was caring for 62 coronavirus patients in hospital as of Tuesday, September 27, figures show.

NHS England data shows the number of people being treated in hospital for Covid-19 by 8am on September 28 was up from 25 on the same day the previous week.

The number of beds at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust occupied by people who tested positive for Covid-19 more than doubled in the last four weeks – 28 days ago, there were 22.

Across England there were 7,024 people in hospital with Covid as of September 28, with 160 of them in mechanical ventilation beds.

The number of Covid-19 patients hospitalised nationally has increased by 24 per cent in the last four weeks, while the number of mechanical ventilators has increased by 11 per cent.

The figures also show that 61 new Covid patients were admitted to hospital in East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust in the week to September 26. This was up from 24 in the previous seven days.