‘We’ll force people to use masks’
NICOLA Sturgeon is considering forcing people to wear face coverings in shops and on public transport.
The First Minister said she thought a tougher approach was “inevitable” amid fears not enough people are wearing them.
Her call came as UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said face coverings would be mandatory on public transport in England from June 15.
Evidence suggests masks can help prevent the spread of coronavirus but ministers have been alarmed by evidence of people ignoring the advice.
Asked yesterday about whether the Scottish Government could make wearing a face covering mandatory, Sturgeon said: “Yes, it is under consideration. I said when I announced the policy some weeks back that we would keep this under review.
“We haven’t reached a final position on this but I think it is fair to say it is something that we are considering.”
She said she would “never encourage” challenging people in public places for not wearing a mask but added: “Right now I am asking you to do it because we think that it is a real benefit. If it can help stop the transmission of this virus, it’s something that is worth doing.
“If the anecdotal evidence suggests people are not doing it, then I think we have a duty to at least consider whether we make that advice stronger, up to and including, in certain circumstances, making it mandatory.”
In response to Shapps’ announcement, Sturgeon tweeted last night: “A reminder that @scotgov already strongly advises the use of face coverings in shops and public transport. As I said earlier today, we are considering making it mandatory. However, no need to wait for that - please do it now (unless you have, eg, asthma).”
A Scottish Government spokeswoman added: “The First Minister has been consistently clear that there is benefit in wearing a face covering in reducing transmission of the Covid-19 virus and the public are encour aged strongly to wear one when travelling on public transport and when in shops or enclosed spaces.
“At the point when people begin to get back to work and are using public transport in greater numbers, there will be an expectation that everyone will wear face coverings on those journeys.”
On the prospect of making them mandatory, she added there would be exemptions for those who are unable to wear face coverings for health reasons.