British Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged people in England to cover their faces in stores on Monday to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, although it did not issue any official requirements.
While visiting ambulance workers in London, Johnson said, “I think people should use [face coverings] in the shops “.
UK PUB INSTALLS AN ELECTRIC FENCE IN THE BAR TO ENSURE THE SOCIAL DISTANCE OF EMPLOYERS: REPORT
“And in terms of how we do it, whether we make it mandatory or not, we will be looking at the guide, we will see a little bit more in the coming days,” he said, according to the BBC.
Johnson’s comments come after critics accused his government of failing to provide clarity about wearing masks.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, wearing a face mask, speaks to the CEO of the London Ambulance Service Garrett Emmerson, right, and the President of the London Ambulance Service, Heather Lawrence, during a visit to the headquarters of the London Ambulances NHS Trust in London on Monday. . (Ben Stansall / Pool via AP)
On Friday, Johnson was seen wearing a face mask for the first time while stating that the government was considering “stricter” rules for wearing masks indoors.
TRUMP CARRIES FACEMASK IN PUBLIC FOR THE FIRST TIME DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
However, Cabinet Minister Michael Gove told the BBC on Sunday that the masks should not be mandatory inside stores, but instead said it was “good manners, courtesy and consideration” to wear one.
Shadow Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth wrote a letter to Health Secretary Matt Hancock, saying that “conflicting advice and conflicting government statements only hinder our fight against the virus.”
“The confusion over the use of face covers and whether they will become mandatory should be addressed by a statement by ministers as a matter of priority,” Ashworth wrote, according to Sky News.
Face masks are already mandatory on public transport in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Some Scottish stores also require masks, depending on the store. The Johnson government only controls health policy in England.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The UK had 291,685 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 44,915 deaths as of Monday, according to a count by Johns Hopkins University.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
