Should wearing a face mask be compulsory in shops?
New data suggests more than half of Britons have taken to wearing a face covering when in public.
Downing Street has faced questions about why more Cabinet ministers are not wearing face coverings after new figures suggested the majority of Britons are covering up while in public.
Matt Hancock told times radio this evening: “The rules are really clear
“If you are in an NHS setting, you need to wear a mask. If you are on public transport, you need to wear a mask.
“If you are in shops, it’s recommended in some shops, but it isn’t mandatory.”
Today, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has changed the rules in Scotland, making it obligatory for shoppers to cover their face with a covering or similar garment in Scotland.
The president of the Royal Society, Professor Venki Ramakrishna, has recommended that everyone should wear a face covering in public to reduce the risk of a second wave of Covid-19 infections.
Meanwhile, London mayor Sadiq Khan has repeated his call for face coverings to be made compulsory in public, telling the PM in a letter that he was “disappointed and frustrated” that the Government had not demanded masks be worn in “busy and enclosed public places”.
He added: “Face coverings are not only vital for public health. They could play an increasing role in supporting public confidence and our economic recovery.”
A spokesman for the PM said a face covering was “no substitute for good social distancing practices” such as staying two metres away from others.
However, Boris Johnson has now hinted that he WILL make people wear masks in shops in future – saying that the Government needs to be “stricter” in making people wearing them.
What are your views? Do you currently wear a face covering when going to the shops? Do you think it should now be compulsory for people to wear face coverings or masks in all shops?
Find out more about the types of face masks with our Simple Guide to Face Coverings here
