Face coverings are to turn into compulsory for folks utilizing public transport in England from Monday 15 June.
Also, all hospital visitors and outpatients must wear face coverings and all staff will have to wear surgical masks at all times, in all areas.
Face coverings are already really useful in some enclosed spaces – like public transport and shops – when social distancing is not possible.
What are the new rules?
The move to obligatory face coverings on buses, trains, ferries and planes, and the new guidelines for hospitals, will coincide with a further easing of lockdown restrictions.
From 15 June, ministers want more non-essential retailers to open and a few secondary school pupils to return to classes. This might put more pressure on public transport, and make social distancing more difficult.
The government has pressured that people ought to:
Proceed working from house if they’ll do so
Keep away from public transport if they can not work from home
Avoid the frenzy hour if they should take public transport
Some passengers might be exempt from the new guidelines:
Young children
Disabled people
These with breathing difficulties
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said passengers ought to wear “the kind of face covering you possibly can easily make at dwelling”. Surgical masks must be kept for medical uses.
He told BBC News that while scientists aren’t in full agreement about face coverings, “we think it’s value doing absolutely everything possible” to reduce the spread of coronavirus.
How will the new rules be enforced?
Mr Shapps said it could be a “situation of journey” to wear a face covering and other people may very well be refused journey – and even fined – if they didn’t follow the rules.
He said British Transport Police would enforce the regulation if mandatory – but he hoped most travellers would comply.
Particulars of the principles will be displayed at stations. Transport staff can even wear face coverings, and volunteer marshals, known as “journey makers”, will give advice.
What’s the current advice?
Until now the government advice in England has said it’s best to wear face coverings:
On public transport and in some shops, where social distancing cannot be noticed
In other enclosed spaces the place you come into contact with others you don’t usually meet
It also stresses that personal face coverings:
Don’t replace social distancing – which should nonetheless be observed
Should not be confused with surgical masks or respirators, which needs to be left for healthcare workers and different workers who want them
Shouldn’t be worn by very younger children or individuals who have problems breathing while wearing a face covering
What about the rest of the UK?
In Scotland, it is recommended that you simply consider using face coverings in restricted circumstances – akin to public transport – as a precautionary measure.
In Northern Eire, folks ought to have face coverings in enclosed spaces for short durations of time, the place social distancing shouldn’t be possible.
At the moment, the Welsh authorities doesn’t ask for people to wear non-scientific face coverings – saying it’s a “matter of personal alternative”.
Why would not everybody wear a mask now?
The World Health Organization (WHO) has up to date its guidelines on wearing face masks, beforehand only recommending them for people who find themselves sick and showing symptoms and people caring for people suspected to have coronavirus.
It now recommends that non-medical face coverings must be worn on public transport and in some enclosed work environments.
It additionally advises that healthcare workers should wear medical masks when providing any patient care.
Folks over 60 and people with underlying health situations, the WHO says, ought to wear medical masks when social distancing cannot be achieved.