Face coverings are to turn into obligatory for people using public transport in England from Monday 15 June.
Also, all hospital guests and outpatients should wear face coverings and all staff must wear surgical masks at all times, in all areas.
Face coverings are already really useful in some enclosed areas – like public transport and shops – when social distancing isn’t possible.
What are the new guidelines?
The move to obligatory face coverings on buses, trains, ferries and planes, and the new guidelines for hospitals, will coincide with an additional 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 could put more pressure on public transport, and make social distancing more difficult.
The federal government has pressured that folks should:
Proceed working from dwelling if they can do so
Avoid public transport if they cannot work from home
Keep away from the push hour if they have to take public transport
Some passengers might be exempt from the new rules:
Younger children
Disabled individuals
These with breathing difficulties
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said passengers should wear “the kind of face covering you may simply make at home”. Surgical masks should be stored for medical uses.
He told BBC News that while scientists aren’t in full agreement about face coverings, “we think it is worth doing absolutely everything potential” to reduce the spread of coronavirus.
How will the new rules be enforced?
Mr Shapps said it might be a “situation of journey” to wear a face covering and people could possibly be refused journey – and even fined – if they didn’t observe the rules.
He said British Transport Police would enforce the regulation if obligatory – however he hoped most travellers would comply.
Particulars of the principles will likely be displayed at stations. Transport staff may even wear face coverings, and volunteer marshals, known as “journey makers”, will give advice.
What is the present advice?
Until now the federal 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 different enclosed areas where you come into contact with others you do not normally meet
It also stresses that personal face coverings:
Don’t exchange social distancing – which should nonetheless be noticed
Should not be confused with surgical masks or respirators, which must be left for healthcare workers and other workers who need them
Should not be worn by very younger children or people who have problems breathing while wearing a face covering
What about the rest of the UK?
In Scotland, it’s endorsed that you just consider using face coverings in restricted circumstances – similar to public transport – as a precautionary measure.
In Northern Eire, folks ought to have face coverings in enclosed areas for short durations of time, where social distancing just isn’t possible.
At present, the Welsh government doesn’t ask for individuals to wear non-clinical face coverings – saying it is a “matter of personal alternative”.
Why doesn’t everybody wear a mask now?
The World Health Organization (WHO) has up to date its guidelines on wearing face masks, previously only recommending them for people who are sick and showing symptoms and people caring for people suspected to have coronavirus.
It now recommends that non-medical face coverings ought to be worn on public transport and in some enclosed work environments.
It also advises that healthcare workers should wear medical masks when providing any affected person care.
Folks over 60 and those with undermendacity health circumstances, the WHO says, should wear medical masks when social distancing cannot be achieved.