Face masks will not be compulsory in the office
MATT Hancock insisted the Government will not make face masks compulsory in offices.
The Health Secretary yesterday claimed the order to keep noses and mouths covered will remain limited to shops, supermarkets and public transport.
He spoke out to clarify the Government’s position after his Cabinet colleague George Eustice declined to rule out the law being extended to office workers.
“That isn’t going to happen and the reason is in offices you tend to spend a lot of time with the same people,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
“Where the mask benefits is from you spreading the disease to other people when you have relatively short interactions with lots of different people.”
Mr Hancock insisted the wearing of face coverings in shops and on public transport is essential to prevent the virus getting out of control again. He
told BBC Breakfast: “People will have to wear masks in shops and on public transport and in the NHS for the foreseeable future.”
Mr Hancock also brushed aside complaints that Cabinet ministers have been inconsistent in obeying the law.
Michael Gove was snapped leaving a Westminster branch of takeaway food chain Pret A Manger with his face uncovered earlier this week, while his Cabinet colleague Liz Truss left the same shop wearing a mask.
Mr Hancock said: “I’m not frankly interested.”
Public-sector union GMB accused the Government of “double standards” for enforcing face masks on public transport but not in schools.
Karen Leonard, GMB National Officer said: “It’s common sense that workers in schools should be allowed to wear face masks and provided with them if they are required.”