New call to routinely wear face coverings

Everyone should wear a face covering in public to reduce the risk of a second wave of COVID-19 infections, says a leading scientific group.

Professor Venki Ramakrishnan, president of the Royal Society, said people should wear a mask when they leave home – particularly in enclosed indoor spaces – but acknowledged that the public remain "sceptical" about the benefits.

Not wearing them outside the home should be considered as "anti-social" as drinkdriving, or failing to wear a seat belt, he said.

Prof Ramakrishnan said: "The virus has not been eliminated, so, as we lift lockdown and people increasingly interact with each other, we need to use every tool we have to reduce the risk of a second wave of infection.

"There are no silver bullets, but alongside hand washing and physical distancing, we also need everyone to start wearing face coverings, particularly indoors in enclosed public spaces where physical distancing is often not possible."

Prof Ramakrishnan said the UK is "way behind" other countries in wearing face coverings, as he claimed that messaging has been unclear and that "inconsistent" guidance has led to people following their own preferences.

He said: “Whatever the reasons, we need to overcome our reservations and wear face coverings whenever we are around others in public.

“It used to be quite normal to have quite a few drinks and drive home, and drive without seat belts.

"Today both of those would be considered antisocial, and not wearing face coverings in public should be regarded in the same way.