Face coverings are to become compulsory for individuals using public transport in England from Monday 15 June.
Additionally, all hospital guests and outpatients must wear face coverings and all workers must wear surgical masks always, in all areas.
Face coverings are already beneficial in some enclosed areas – like public transport and shops – when social distancing is not 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 extra 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 harassed that people ought to:
Continue working from house if they can do so
Avoid public transport if they cannot work from home
Keep away from the push hour if they must take public transport
Some passengers shall be exempt from the new rules:
Young children
Disabled people
Those with breathing difficulties
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said passengers should wear “the sort of face covering you can simply make at dwelling”. Surgical masks needs to be stored 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 attainable” to reduce the spread of coronavirus.
How will the new guidelines be enforced?
Mr Shapps said it might be a “condition of travel” to wear a face covering and other people may very well be refused journey – and even fined – in the event that they did not follow the rules.
He said British Transport Police would implement the regulation if obligatory – but he hoped most travellers would comply.
Details of the rules will likely be displayed at stations. Transport employees 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 you must wear face coverings:
On public transport and in some shops, the place social distancing can’t be noticed
In other enclosed areas where you come into contact with others you do not usually meet
It additionally stresses that personal face coverings:
Don’t change social distancing – which ought to still be noticed
Should not be confused with surgical masks or respirators, which should be left for healthcare employees and different workers who need them
Shouldn’t be worn by very young children or individuals who have problems breathing while wearing a face covering
What about the remainder of the UK?
In Scotland, it is suggested that you simply consider utilizing face coverings in limited circumstances – resembling public transport – as a precautionary measure.
In Northern Ireland, folks should have face coverings in enclosed spaces for short periods of time, where social distancing is not possible.
Presently, the Welsh government does not ask for individuals to wear non-scientific face coverings – saying it’s a “matter of personal selection”.
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 are sick and showing symptoms and people caring for individuals 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 ought to wear medical masks when providing any patient care.
Individuals over 60 and those with underlying health situations, the WHO says, ought to wear medical masks when social distancing can’t be achieved.