What time is Matt Hancock’s statement on face masks?

WEARING a face mask in shops and supermarkets is to be made mandatory in England from July 24, the Government has announced.

Today, Health Secretary Matt Hancock will make a statement saying anyone failing to comply with that order could face a fine of up to £100. But what time is Mr Hancock’s statement, what will he announce, and what are the current rules?

crown copyright

What time is Matt Hancock’s face masks statement?

Health Secretary Matt Hancock’s statement on making face masks mandatory in shops and supermarkets is expected to be at 3:30 pm today, from the House of Commons.

What is Health Secretary expected to announce?

In the statement, Health Secretary Matt Hancock is expected to announce that anyone failing to comply with the order – which comes into force on July 24 – could face a fine of up to £100.

Ahead of Mr Hancock’s statement, a No 10 spokesman said: “There is growing evidence that wearing a face-covering in an enclosed space helps protect individuals and those around them from coronavirus.

“The Prime Minister has been clear that people should be wearing face coverings in shops and we will make this mandatory from July 24.”

AFP and licensors

The Prime Minister spoke out ahead of today’s announcement that masks will be made mandatory. He said: “I do think in shops it is very important to wear a face ­covering if you are going to be in a confined space.

“You want to protect other people and receive protection in turn. Face coverings — I think people should be wearing them in shops.”

The move follows a weekend of confusion over whether ministers intended to make face coverings mandatory after Boris Johnson said they were looking at “stricter” rules.

The senior Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said on Sunday that he did not believe they should be compulsory, and it was better to trust people’s “good sense”.

What are the current coronavirus rules?

Getty Images - Getty

The new announcement will bring shops in line with public transport, where masks have been compulsory since June 15, 2020.

But the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “There will be exceptions to these rules for very young children, disabled people and those with breathing difficulties.”

According to the official Government guidance, the following groups are not required to wear a face-covering while using public transport or in a shop:

• A child under the age of 11
• An employee of the transport operator, when they are acting in the course of their employment
• Any other person providing services to the transport operator, under arrangements made with the transport operator, who is providing those services
• A constable or police community support officer acting in the course of their duty
• An emergency responder such as a paramedic or fire officer acting in the course of their duty
• An official, for example, a border force officer, acting in the course of their duties
• If you are allocated a cabin, berth or other similar accommodation, at any time when you are in that accommodation, either alone, or only with members of your own household or a linked household
• If you are on board public transport but remain in your private vehicle, for example on a car ferry

There are also a series of factors which the Government describes as a “reasonable excuse”, which also means you don’t have to wear a mask:

• If you have a physical or mental illness or impairment, or a disability that means you cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering
• If putting on, wearing or removing a face covering would cause you severe distress
• If you are travelling with, or providing assistance to, someone who relies on lip reading to communicate
• If you are travelling to avoid injury or escape the risk of harm, and you do not have a face covering with you
• If you need to remove it during your journey to avoid harm or injury or the risk of harm or injury to yourself or others
• If you need to eat, drink, or take medication you can remove your face covering
• If you are asked to remove your face covering by a police officer or other official, for example to check your railcard
• According to the website Autism Eye, these rules around “reasonable excuses” also cover passengers with autism.

Downing street has faced pressure to act after scientists demanded the rule be changed.

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon made face masks compulsory in shops there on Friday.