Chaos deepened over the use of face masks to tackle the spread of coroanvirus today as the mayor of London threatened to ‘unilaterally’ order their use.
Sadiq Khan warned he might take the step as Boris Johnson’s Government continued to insist that the evidence of their effectiveness was ‘weak’.
But Westminster’s stance has already been undermines by Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who yesterday told Scots face coverings should be used in enclosed spaces where social distancing is hard to maintain.
Britain is to stockpile face masks for commuters and shoppers to wear in public, with Michael Gove revealing last night that a Treasury minister is leading a ‘domestic effort’ to ensure that enough are available if there is a u-turn in advice.
However, Mr Khan warned that he may pre-empt any change in the capital, telling ITV News: ‘If it’s the case that despite all our lobbying and the emerging scientific evidence the government doesn’t change its guidance, I may well decide unilaterally to instruct Londoners to do that.’
Sadiq Khan warned he might take the step as Boris Johnson’s Government continued to insist that the evidence of their effectiveness was ‘weak’
face masks are already being worn by some people in the UK but their use is not widespread or compulsory as in some other nations. Pictured is a man walking in London this morning
A woman wearing a protective face mask and gloves in Westminster this morning, following Mr Khan’s threat to take unilateral action
Number 10 said on Tuesday that the UK Government has not decided on its approach after receiving evidence from the scientific advisory group for emergencies (Sage) last week.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said that ministers ‘are considering the advice they have been given and once a decision has been reached then we will announce it publicly’.
Later on Tuesday, Professor Angela McLean, the deputy chief scientific adviser, said Sage had recommended that there is ‘weak evidence of a small effect’ that wearing a face mask can prevent an infected person spreading the disease.
She told the daily Downing Street press conference: ‘The answer is clear that the evidence is weak and the effect is small, and we have passed that on to our colleagues in Government with which to make a decision.’
Cabinet Office Minister Mr Gove had earlier been challenged by his Labour shadow Rachel Reeves on face mask supplies for the public in case the government recommends they should be worn in public.
Mr Gove said any stockpiled masks would not be the ‘high-spec surgical face masks’ used in the NHS but ones that could be used in particular settings.
He said: ‘I can confirm Lord Agnew, the joint Cabinet Office and Treasury minister, has launched a domestic effort to ensure we produce just such masks and that is part of the broader effort that Lord Deighton is leading on ensuring we can bolster the production of personal protection equipment.’
Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, warned that a change in guidance on face masks could result in panic-buying however – as some Britons try to get their hands on the higher-spec masks.
He said: ‘There is bound to be a question in some people’s minds about what form of face covering provides the greatest protection.
‘The scientific evidence is clear – the fluid repellent surgical masks used by healthcare workers offer greater protection because of the significantly smaller pore sizes in the material they use.
‘It therefore seems likely that some people will seek to purchase these masks.’
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon (pictured) said face coverings should be used in enclosed spaces where social distancing is hard to maintain
However, Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the daily Downing Street press conference yesterday that the evidence in favour of wearing face masks was ‘weak’.
He added: ‘The UK Government’s position has not changed, not least because the most important thing that people can do is social distancing as opposed to the weak science on face masks, so that is our absolute priority.’
Ministers have been coming under growing pressure to provide clear guidance on the use of face masks amid hopes it could encourage the public to go back to work and help get the economy back on track. The Mail revealed earlier this month that ministers were considering the move.
In her daily Covid-19 briefing yesterday, Miss Sturgeon said her government was now advising the limited use of face coverings made of cloth, including scarves, for everyone above the age of two.
Pictured: A man, wearing a protective face mask, checks his mobile phone during a lockdown imposed to slow the rate of coronavirus in Paris
Pictured: A young woman wears a protective mask as she waits for the tram in Brussels
She added: ‘We are recommending that you do wear a cloth face covering if you are in an enclosed space with others where social distancing is difficult, for example public transport or in a shop.’
The use of the more general term ‘coverings’ differentiates them from medical-grade masks amid concerns greater public uptake could lead to a shortage for NHS staff.
Miss Sturgeon did not make their use mandatory, conceding evidence over their use is ‘still limited’, but said there are benefits in wearing coverings to reduce transmission from individuals who are not yet exhibiting symptoms.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said ministers ‘are considering the advice they have been given and once a decision has been reached then we will announce it publicly’.
No 10 insisted Mr Johnson wanted to maintain a UK-wide response as far as possible.
Pictured: A woman wears a face mask as she walks on Oxford Street, London amid the Covid-19 crisis
Downing Street said the Government has not yet decided whether to follow suit in the rest of the UK after receiving evidence from the Sage scientific advisory group for emergencies last week
Asked whether it was helpful for Miss Sturgeon to break ranks from the four-nation approach to the lockdown, the spokesman said: ‘There have been points in the response so far where announcements have been made at ever so slightly different times.
‘But by and large we have moved forward in a single four-nation approach. The devolved administrations have all said that they hope that continues to be the case and we would agree with that.’
Dame Angela McLean, the UK’s deputy chief scientific adviser, has said: ‘The recommendation from Sage is completely clear that there is weak evidence of a small effect in which a face mask can prevent a source of infection. We passed that on to colleagues in Government with which to make a decision.’
Mr Gove stressed the importance of easing any lockdown restrictions in ‘as united a way as possible’ across the UK.
Challenged in the Commons on whether the UK had enough face masks for non-NHS workers, he stressed the difference between surgical masks and ‘face coverings’ but added that Lord Agnew, the joint Cabinet Office and Treasury minister, ‘has launched a domestic effort to ensure that we produce just such masks’.
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