No 10 adds to confusion over compulsory face masks
CONFUSION over the rules on wearing face coverings in sandwich shops mounted yesterday after Downing Street refused to repeat its claim that they would not be mandatory.
Just 24 hours after contradicting Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary – who insisted they would be compulsory when buying takeaway food – No 10 appeared to retreat from the position it set out the previous day.
While Mr Hancock said that people queuing to purchase food at outlets such as Pret A Manger would have to wear them, the Prime Minister’s spokesman suggested just hours later on Wednesday they would not.
The requirement is not believed to extend to restaurants, pubs or cafes where table service is being used.
Health ministers were said to be privately frustrated at No10’s comments, having believed that the matter had already been decided in favour of telling the public to wear a mask when queuing to buy food in takeaway outlets.
Asked again yesterday whether they would be mandatory for people buying takeaway food, the Prime Minister’s spokesman said the guidance was still being worked on. “I know that work is going on with the regulations but I’ve just not checked in on that this morning,” he told reporters.
However, earlier in the day Alok Sharma, the Business Secretary, spread further confusion, stating that while coverings would be compulsory in shops and supermarkets, they would only be encouraged for takeaways.
Asked if a mask would be required when purchasing a takeaway sandwich and coffee, Mr Sharma told Sky News: “It won’t be compulsory but we will certainly encourage you.
“Face coverings are not compulsory when you’re going into a restaurant, and a cafe and you’re sitting down to have a meal. But we’re encouraging people to wear face coverings when they’re going into a cafe or a food-to-go establishment and they’re not going to be sitting down and having a meal.”
Meanwhile, Sir Patrick Vallance, the Chief Scientific Adviser, faced questions from the Commons science committee about whether the UK would have fared worse if it had followed WHO advice – such as mass testing in February – rather than its own advice.
“[In April] we said face masks are of marginal value when used in enclosed spaces … which essentially is the advice that WHO have come out with.”