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Coronavirus: Matt Hancock rejects face coverings for offices | Coronavirus: Matt Hancock rejects face coverings for offices |
(32 minutes later) | |
There are no plans to make face coverings mandatory for office workers in England, Matt Hancock has said. | There are no plans to make face coverings mandatory for office workers in England, Matt Hancock has said. |
The health secretary told BBC Breakfast people working in offices would not need to cover up, despite a newspaper report suggesting they would. | |
"It is something we've looked at and rejected," he said, but added masks would be worn elsewhere by the public "for the foreseeable future". | "It is something we've looked at and rejected," he said, but added masks would be worn elsewhere by the public "for the foreseeable future". |
Face coverings in shops will become mandatory in England on 24 July. | Face coverings in shops will become mandatory in England on 24 July. |
Scotland already requires shoppers to cover their faces while Wales and Northern Ireland are both weighing up similar policies. | Scotland already requires shoppers to cover their faces while Wales and Northern Ireland are both weighing up similar policies. |
Mr Hancock said coverings helped prevent spread during brief encounters with strangers, but that social distancing and hand washing were more effective for contact with people over long periods of time. | |
There is a difference between visiting a shop for a few minutes and working alongside colleagues at a desk for several hours, he said. | There is a difference between visiting a shop for a few minutes and working alongside colleagues at a desk for several hours, he said. |
"When you're in close proximity with somebody that you have to work closely to, if you're there for a long time with them, then a mask doesn't offer that protection." | |
"The same logic applies for schools - we're not recommending masks for schools because if you're in a classroom with kids all day then a mask doesn't give you protection," he added. | |
Mr Hancock said face coverings were effective "in a shop or public transport, for instance, when you're with somebody for a reasonable amount of time - a few minutes - but not all day." | Mr Hancock said face coverings were effective "in a shop or public transport, for instance, when you're with somebody for a reasonable amount of time - a few minutes - but not all day." |
"The point is when you're in interaction with people who you aren't normally with, that's where the mask may be particularly helpful." | "The point is when you're in interaction with people who you aren't normally with, that's where the mask may be particularly helpful." |
He added: "We are not proposing to extend masks to offices." | He added: "We are not proposing to extend masks to offices." |
Mr Hancock's comments came as a council in Blackburn, Lancashire, told residents they must wear face coverings while in all public settings as it worked to combat a "rising tide" of coronavirus cases. | Mr Hancock's comments came as a council in Blackburn, Lancashire, told residents they must wear face coverings while in all public settings as it worked to combat a "rising tide" of coronavirus cases. |
Prof Dominic Harrison, Blackburn with Darwen's director of public health, said he hoped the use of coverings alongside other specific measures would prevent a Leicester-style local lockdown in the area. | Prof Dominic Harrison, Blackburn with Darwen's director of public health, said he hoped the use of coverings alongside other specific measures would prevent a Leicester-style local lockdown in the area. |
Leicester became subject to the UK's first local lockdown on 4 July following a spike in Covid-19 cases. There are limits on social gatherings and hotels, pubs and restaurants have not been allowed to reopen. | Leicester became subject to the UK's first local lockdown on 4 July following a spike in Covid-19 cases. There are limits on social gatherings and hotels, pubs and restaurants have not been allowed to reopen. |
Meanwhile, questions continue to be asked about the use of masks by politicians. | Meanwhile, questions continue to be asked about the use of masks by politicians. |
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Hancock said he was "not frankly interested" in photographs showing apparent differences in the use of face coverings by cabinet ministers. | Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Hancock said he was "not frankly interested" in photographs showing apparent differences in the use of face coverings by cabinet ministers. |
Pictures of Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove showed him without a face covering while buying food at a branch of Pret on Tuesday, while Trade Secretary Liz Truss was seen in the same shop minutes later wearing a bright blue mask. | Pictures of Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove showed him without a face covering while buying food at a branch of Pret on Tuesday, while Trade Secretary Liz Truss was seen in the same shop minutes later wearing a bright blue mask. |
Mr Hancock said: "Those photographs were taken before I announced the change in policy to the House of Commons yesterday afternoon. | Mr Hancock said: "Those photographs were taken before I announced the change in policy to the House of Commons yesterday afternoon. |
"And it's absolutely straightforward that from July 24 we're making it mandatory to wear a face covering in a shop in the same way it's mandatory on public transport and in the NHS." | "And it's absolutely straightforward that from July 24 we're making it mandatory to wear a face covering in a shop in the same way it's mandatory on public transport and in the NHS." |
Mr Hancock said the public needed to get used to wearing face coverings in shops and at NHS facilities "for the foreseeable future". | Mr Hancock said the public needed to get used to wearing face coverings in shops and at NHS facilities "for the foreseeable future". |
"People have got to play their part," he said. | "People have got to play their part," he said. |
It comes after it was announced those who failed to comply with the new rules on wearing face coverings in England's shops would face a fine of up to £100. | |
Children under 11, those with certain disabilities, and people working in shops will be exempt. | Children under 11, those with certain disabilities, and people working in shops will be exempt. |
Mr Hancock told the Commons on Tuesday the new rule would "give people more confidence to shop safely and enhance protections for those who work in shops". | Mr Hancock told the Commons on Tuesday the new rule would "give people more confidence to shop safely and enhance protections for those who work in shops". |
Mask-wearing has been compulsory on public transport in England and at NHS facilities across the UK since 15 June. | Mask-wearing has been compulsory on public transport in England and at NHS facilities across the UK since 15 June. |
Do you work in an office? What are your feelings about wearing a mask at work? Share your stories by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | |
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