Boris Johnson has told Sky News this morning that an announcement on face coverings will be made ‘in the next few days’ with rumours that it will be made mandatory to wear a face covering in shops.
Rumours that this move would take place surfaced last weekend when Boris Johnson told reporters that it was important that people wore face coverings in shops and other crowded settings and that the government would be exploring the idea of further persuading the public to do so.
Mr Johnson told Sky News:
What we’ve said for a while now is that we do think masks have a great deal of value – obviously they’re mandatory on public transport, on the Tube – but they have a great deal of value in confined spaces, where you’re coming into contact with people you don’t normally meet.
“What’s been interesting on the face coverings issue in the last few months is the scientific evaluation of face coverings and their importance in stopping aerosol droplets, that’s been growing.
“So, I do think that in shops it is very important to wear a face covering, if you’re going to be in a confined space and you want to protect other people and to receive protection in turn.
“Yes, face coverings, I think, people should be wearing in shops.
“And, in terms of how we do that, whether we make it mandatory or not, we will be looking at the guidance, we’ll be saying a little bit more in the next few days.”
