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Are people in the UK told to wear face masks?
No. The government council is very specific and more limited than that of many other countries. He says that people should wear a homemade face covering, not a purchased mask, in closed places where it is difficult to stay within two meters of others, such as on public transportation or in certain stores. But they will not be compulsory for the general use of anyone who leaves the house, nor are they recommended for exercising, schools, offices or other places of work.
His statement echoes the guidance given by Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s prime minister, two weeks ago, when he recommended the Scottish public wear face masks in confined spaces where physical distancing is difficult.
Welsh Prime Minister Mark Drakeford said there is “no strong enough evidence” to advise people to cover their faces in public in Wales.
Why not wear a mask?
There is a clear anxiety that such advice will lead to a career in the type of masks that health and care workers need. That is one of the reasons why the World Health Organization does not recommend the use of masks. There has been a shortage of surgical masks and respirators worldwide, including in the UK. The Department of Health and Social Assistance recommends that people wear a scarf or make their own mask from an old T-shirt. The other concern of some scientists is that people will become too safe if they wear one and assume they don’t need to keep their distance from other people or wash their hands.
What protection does a face covering give me?
Evidence shows that it does not protect the person using it because viral particles flying through the air at high speed can pass through it. But it can help protect other people from you if you are infected. The cover can reduce the drops that carry the virus that expels from the mouth and nose when coughing, sneezing or speaking. That means there’s less chance that the drops will land on someone close to you or fall on a surface like the door handle or rail that someone else can touch before putting your hand on your face.
Can I wear the same scarf day after day to cover my nose and mouth on the bus or train?
Yes, as long as you wash it after each use in case it is covered in viruses. This means that it is also important to be careful when removing it, so that the virus particles do not transfer to the face and then wash your hands. Nor should you touch it while you are using it, says the government, “to prevent your hand from hiding the transmission of the virus.”
Should children wear face covers?
The government’s advice is that children under the age of two should not cover their faces for fear of restricting their breathing. Primary-age children, therefore, under the age of 11, should also not wear face covers unless under supervision. They are not recommended for schools. People with respiratory conditions, such as asthma, should not use them.
Does this put us in line with other countries?
No. In Spain, for example, masks are required for anyone leaving their home and they are delivered at the stations. France has just made them mandatory. In several Asian countries with low infection rates, such as Singapore and South Korea, masks have been used universally. The new UK policy is somewhere in between and is presented as advice that the public can choose to follow or ignore.
