PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Coronavirus: Protective Clothing (18 June 2020)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make and assessment of the potential merits of removing the compulsory requirement to wear face coverings on public transport.

Asked by:
Sir John Hayes (Conservative)

The Government has thoroughly assessed the merits of wearing face coverings on public transport. We continue to follow scientific advice and recommend this in order to protect the public against COVID-19.

The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies advised that using cloth masks as a precautionary measure could be at least partially effective in enclosed spaces like public transport where social distancing is not possible consistently, creating a risk of close social contact with multiple parties the person does not usually meet.

This advice does not replace or change existing advice on other measures – such as hand washing, social distancing and self-isolation – which remain more important (because of stronger evidence and larger effects).

Answered by:
Jo Churchill (Conservative)
13 July 2020