BORIS Johnson was warned multiple times that he would need to wear a mask in all areas of the hospital he was visiting earlier this week, reports say.
The Prime Minister was heavily criticised after being photographed walking around Hexham General Hospital with no face covering at times, despite rules at the building calling on visitors to don masks at all times.
A representative for Covid-19 Families for Justice accused Johnson of “putting lives at risk completely unnecessarily” – but Dominic Raab, deputy PM, defended him amid outrage, saying he understood he’d followed the guidance.
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According to the Mirror the Conservative leader and his team were emailed by hospital bosses before the visit, who said masks were needed everywhere once inside.
He was told again when he arrived at Hexham General Hospital, they report, but despite that he went on to take his covering off while wandering down a corridor.
After that Johnson was asked to put the mask on a final time and continued to keep it on for the duration of his stay.
Susie Flintham of Covid-19 Families for Justice commented: “For him to make a point of posing for a photo without a mask is a slap in the face to bereaved families.”
Hexham hospital bosses said: “Our mask-wearing rules are very clear, and it is important to note that everyone that was part of the official visit to Hexham General Hospital on Monday 8 November were formally advised and reminded of these rules on the day. Information was included in the written programme.
"These rules include information about mask-wearing and other infection prevention and control measures, such as hand-washing, tucking away loose clothing (ties), and having rolled-up sleeves.
"After the Prime Minister left a welcome meeting, he walked along a mezzanine corridor, for a very short period of time, without a mask.
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"This brief moment was captured on camera. As soon as this was identified he was given a mask and he put it on.
"The Prime Minister did wear a mask for the majority of the visit.”
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