Scottish Government advises covering face in shops and on public transport

The First Minister admitted there was still “limited” evidence that they were effective.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has advised Scots to wear ‘face coverings’ when in shops or on public transport.

Speaking at her daily press briefing, Ms Sturgeon said coverings like scarves may help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

She made clear that she was referring to coverings over the mouth and nose made of “cloth or other textiles” through which you can breathe, and not to medical-grade PPE used by NHS workers.

IKEA staff wearing protective masks. Picture Getty

She admitted that while evidence of their effectiveness was still “limited”, the government was now suggesting that people should wear them when leaving their homes and “entering enclosed spaces with multiple people”.

Ms Sturgeon also reiterated that the most important measures people could take to prevent the transmission of Covid-19 was “to comply with the current stay-at-home, social distancing, and hygiene rules.”

“Face coverings are not - I repeat - not a substitute for any of that,” she insisted.

“There may be some benefit in wearing a face covering if you leave the house and enter an enclosed space where you come into contact with multiple people, and safe social distancing is difficult,” she said, citing examples like food shops and public transport.

But Ms Sturgeon told reporters that the main benefit of using face coverings would be stopping the wearers from infecting other people if they have the disease but do not have symptoms.

“Wearing a face covering in those circumstances may reduce the chances of that person transmitting the virus onto others,” she said.

But while the Scottish government now recommends using face coverings, they will not be enforcing them.

The evidence is relatively weak,” Ms Sturgeon said, “and we are not, at this stage, making it mandatory or suggesting that it will be enforced, though we will be keeping that under review.”

Information posted on the Scottish government’s website about the new recommendations said that face coverings should not be given to children under the age of two.

The information says “it is important that you wash your hands first and avoid touching your face” before applying and removing the covering, and said “you must wash the face covering at 60 degrees centigrade or dispose of safely” after each use.

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