Giving birth alone

[Thekindyoufindinasecondhand]

I have seen many petitions, articles, Instagram posts etc about hospitals enforcing no birth partners in the UK. My hospital where I am due to give birth has told me I can have one birthing partner during active labour only.

This isn't necessarily a thread to debate the rights an wrongs of this (although I'm sure that may happen!) it's is more out of interest are there hospitals in the UK that are saying no birth partners at all for any stages of labour at the moment?

news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-mother-who-gave-birth-alone-praises-nhs-for-positive-experience-11967219

In this article it’s saying the midwives were wearing full PPE

I wonder if that means the full on suits, goggles, n95 masks and gloves or does that mean just the surgical masks, gloves and plastic aprons?