Call for people to be told to wear face masks when out in public

Sadiq Khan is urging the UK government to change its advice to the public on wearing face masks to combat the spread of Covid-19.

The London mayor said in a TV interview yesterday that wearing non-medical facial masks, such as a bandana, scarf or reusable mask, would add “another layer of protection” to the public. Existing UK guidance has emphasised the importance of masks for doctors and nurses, but does not suggest widespread usage.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps said it was “not the right moment” to encourage people to wear masks, adding that the government needed to look at all of the evidence.

Mr Khan, who wrote to Mr Shapps about the issue, said he was lobbying for masks to be worn in circumstances where people cannot keep 2m apart such as on public transport or while shopping.

“Wearing a non-medical facial covering makes it less likely you may inadvertently give somebody else Covid-19,” he told BBC Breakfast.

“I want a consistent approach across the country, we don’t want mixed messaging. So I’m lobbying the government’s experts and the government, [and] want them to change their advice and change their guidance so we can have this additional layer of protection.”

He said it was important the UK was “no longer an outlier” as he referred to the Centre for Disease Control in the US, which now recommends people wear cloth face masks when outside their homes.

Mr Khan said everyone may need to wear a facial covering once the existing lockdown measures begin to ease.

“What I’m lobbying for is, at the moment, when you can’t keep your distance, wear a non-medical facial covering,” he said.