Gove: Time to get economy fired up with work return
MICHAEL Gove yesterday appealed to the public to return to their workplaces to “fire up” the economy after months of coronavirus lockdown.
The Cabinet Office Minister said the Government was dropping its work from home advice as the infection rate continues to fall.
He also said wearing face masks in shops and other indoor spaces was “basic common courtesy” but indicated that ministers had shied away from making the practice compulsory.
Mr Gove said people should be encouraged to wear masks when in enclosed spaces with others, where the risk of spreading the virus is thought to be far higher than outdoors. It comes as thousands more businesses, including beauty salons, tanning parlours and nail bars, get set to reopen today.
Whitehall officials are also ditching the Government advice to avoid using public transport if possible.
Mr Gove said: “We want to see more people back at work, on the shop floor, in the office, wherever they can be.
“We want to make sure that the economic engines of this country are fired up again.”
He added: “I would encourage people to wear face masks when they are inside, in an environment where they are likely to be mixing with others and where the ventilation may not be as good as it might.
“I think that it is basic good manners, courtesy and consideration to wear a face mask if you are, for example, in a shop.
“I trust people’s good sense. Now of course the Government at all times does look at the emerging evidence about what the best way to control the disease is. It is best to trust people’s common sense.”