Just as the nation has got used to not having to wear facemasks in public places, Welsh hospitals and health centres are gearing up to re-introduce them following a sharp spike in the number of Covid-19 cases.

The estimated infection total now stands at 64,800 which represents one in 45 people.

But more alarming is that the number of people currently being treated in hospital for Covid-19 has also been rising steadily over the last seven days.

The average daily figure for hospital patients currently stands at 227, which marks a 44 per cent increase on the previous week.

Of those, 12 per cent are being primarily treated for the virus while the remainder are being treated for other conditions.

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The Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, which covers the Gwent area, has already announced its decision to re-introduce masks with immediate effect.

"Due to the increasing prevalence of Covid-19 in the community, the increased number of Covid-19 ward outbreaks, and the numbers of staff absent with Covid-19, we are asking all hospital staff and visitors to wear masks in clinical areas with immediate effect,” says the Health Board’s statement.

"Thank you for your support and co-operation in reducing the risk to our patients and staff.

"We will continue to review the Covid-19 position in hospital and community settings, and will update accordingly."

Mask wearing rules in health and care settings were scrapped by the Welsh Government at the end of May.

This marked the end of Covid restrictions which had been in place for over two years.

Meanwhile top medical expert Dr Frank Atherton fears the country is heading into another wave of coronavirus.

“The latest figures show a significant rise in cases in Wales and it’s likely that the country is heading into another wave.”

But Dr Atherton said he remains hopeful that draconian restrictions will not need to be imposed.