A hospital trust is asking visitors and patients to return to wearing face masks, as Covid and flu cases rise.

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said Covid cases had “risen significantly” over the last few weeks, both locally and nationally.

People were also asked to sanitise their hands, keep their distance and avoid visiting if they had viral symptoms.

Managers said “precautionary measures” were needed to limit infection spread.

A spokesperson for the trust, which runs sites including Northern General Hospital, said: “Along with our staff, visitors, outpatients and anyone accompanying them are asked to wear masks in all clinical areas and anywhere they will be in close contact with others for longer periods of time.