What are the fools on about?

March 12: Deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries: “For the average member of the public walking down a street, it is not a good idea. In fact, you can actually trap the virus in the mask.”

April 16: Chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty: “The evidence is weak, but the evidence of a small effect is there.”

April 21: Health experts Sage advised in a meeting: “On balance, there is enough evidence to support recommendation of community use of cloth face masks, for short periods in enclosed spaces.”

April 23: Dr Harries says there could be “a very, very small potential beneficial effect in some enclosed environments”.

April 24: Matt Hancock: “The science is constantly evolving. As of today, the Government position is unchanged.”

April 30: Boris Johnson: “I do think that face coverings will be useful, both for epidemiological reasons but also for giving people confidence that they can go back to work.”

June 4: Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announces face coverings will be mandatory on public transport in England from June 15, saying: “The evidence suggests wearing face coverings offers some – albeit limited – protection.”

June 5: Mr Hancock reveals plans to make face coverings compulsory in hospitals from June 15 but Mr Shapps says that masks would not be required in shops.

July 10: Mr Johnson says the Government “needs to be stricter in insisting people wear face coverings in confined spaces”.

July 12: Mr Gove says masks will not be compulsory in shops in England, insisting it is a matter of “good manners”.

July 13: Mr Johnson says an announcement is due “in the coming days” on compulsory masks.

July 14: Mr Hancock announces face coverings in shops will become mandatory in England on Friday, July 24.