FACE masks for staff in offices are “being considered”, a Government minister has revealed.
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said that making face masks mandatory “does have some benefit” as the list of places they must be worn has grown to try and stop the spread of coronavirus.
Mr Jenrick said yesterday: “It does have some benefit.
“So, I’m sure, as with other things, that will be taken into consideration by the Health Secretary and the chief medical officer, but we don’t have a plan today to take action in that respect.”
Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, had previously ruled out making face masks in offices compulsory.
He said earlier this year: “No, that isn’t going to happen, and the reason is that in offices you tend to spend a lot of time with the same people, and so the way to stop the spread of the virus in offices is to have social distancing, either two metres or one metre plus mitigations in place.”
But the PM said people who work in cafes, restaurants, bars, pubs and shops must now all wear face masks.
And people who go out for a bite to eat or a drink have to wear a mask when not sitting down at a table.
It comes as
- Northern leaders are revolting over more lockdown measures being slapped on them
- Rishi Sunak prepares to introduce “local furlough” in lockdown areas
- Vulnerable people face months indoors under new shielding plans
- Britain’s economy grew just 2.1 per cent – less than half predicted
- 15million Brits were on NHS waiting lists as the health service scrambles to catch up after lockdown
- Pubs and restaurants in Scotland won’t be able to serve booze for 16 days from this evening – and will have to close daily at 6pm
- Nottingham is England’s worst coronavirus hotspot – with an infection rate of 689.1 per 100,000
The fine for failing to wear a face masks where they are compulsory have been doubled to £200 for a first offence.
Some offices have already asked their employees to wear face masks without a Government directive, Mr Jenrick said.
Transport for London have only fined 400 people since it was made a legal requirement to cover up on public transport.
Fines of up to £6,400 can be imposed for a sixth offence.
Ministers in Scotland have also met to discuss making face masks compulsory in offices.
The suggestions face masks could be rolled out in officers come as the coronavirus cases are spiralling out of control in huge parts of the country.
Nottingham is England’s worst coronavirus hotspot – with more than 2,000 cases in a single week, six times the number the week before – but there are no local lockdown rules in place yet.
And Northern politicians are furious at the Government over plans to force pubs and restaurants to close, without being given a new financial package.
Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has even threatened legal action if ministers keep treating the north of England with “contempt” and introducing more drastic measures.
In an attempt to quell the anger, Chancellor Rishi Sunak is expected to announce further financial aid this afternoon.
A No10 spokesperson said: “We are seeing cases rise across the country, parts in the North East and North West.
“We will continue to keep all that data under review and won’t hesitate to act in order to protect communities and save lives.”
