07/07/2020 11:52
Coronavirus: Wear masks in crowded public spaces, says science body
Everyone should carry a face covering when they leave home in order to tackle coronavirus, the president of the UK's national academy of science has said.
Prof Sir Venki Ramakrishnan, president of the Royal Society, said the coverings should then be worn "whenever you are in crowded public spaces".
He added there was evidence that they protected both the wearer and those around them.
The UK was "way behind" many countries in their usage, he said.
Current guidance on face coverings varies across the UK, but Public Health England previously said they did not need to be worn outdoors.
There are mixed feelings among the experts on the government's scientific advisory group, SAGE, around the use of face coverings.
Some point to evidence that indicates coverings do not seem to slow the spread of flu when worn in Asian countries, and there are concerns they might give some a false sense of security.
But there is a consensus that they may reduce the risk of an infected person passing the virus on to someone else.
Speaking as the Royal Society published two reports on face coverings, Prof Ramakrishnan said the public remained "sceptical" about their benefits because "the message has not been clear enough" and guidelines have been inconsistent.