GAZETTE readers say hospital visitors must "accept" a decision by hospital bosses to reintroduce mask wearing at Colchester Hospital.

East Suffolk and North Essex Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, asked visitors to don masks from yesterday, following a rise in Covid cases.

The trust was caring for 28 coronavirus patients in hospital as of last Tuesday, figures show.

In response to the news Gazette readers said they "didn't understand" why people would not wear a mask. 

It comes as a Gazette poll showed 57 per cent said they did not agree with a move to reintroduce face masks for visitors at the hospital.

In total 120 responded to the poll. 

Vivien Collins commented: "If Colchester Hospital wants us to wear masks, then I'm happy to comply.

"If you have enough trust in a hospital that you are willing to be a patient there, then you accept the premise that they may know more than us about health matters."

Rebecca Jane added: "Covid or not surely it's a good idea to do anything we can to reduce the spread of infection in a hospital when the most poorly people will be."

Kevin Starling added: "I really don't understand, what is so hard about wearing a mask, unless you have a medical reason why you can't.

"Other countries have been wearing them way before covid just to cut down the amount of pollution they would otherwise breathe."

Giles Thorpe, the trust’s chief nurse, said the decision came following an increase in Covid patient.

He said: “That is why we are asking visitors to do their bit again now and help stop the spread of Covid-19 in our hospitals by wearing a surgical face mask when they visit.

“We appreciate face masks are no longer required in many areas of our day to day lives, but our hospitals are not the same as a supermarket or a restaurant.

"Many of our patients are already extremely unwell and could be at higher risk of serious illness if they pick up Covid-19."