Face masks ‘should be compulsory in offices to prevent second wave’

Face masks should be made compulsory for all office workers to help drive down the spread of coronavirus indoors, leading medics have warned.

Boris Johnson announced earlier this week that they will now be mandatory for shop staff, anyone getting a taxi and all employees and customers in pubs and restaurants except those sitting down to eat or drink. Fines for flouting the rules have also been doubled to £200.

But the British Medical Association (BMA) said it was ‘illogical’ not to have introduced the measures back in the summer when retail and hospitality first reopened, adding that the new restrictions do not go far enough to avoid a second peak.

The doctors’ union also criticised the Government for hurrying staff back to offices as infection rates were rising and called for the rule to be extended to all indoor workplaces.

Chairman Dr Chaand Nagpaul said: ‘The BMA has consistently argued that it was illogical for staff not to be required to wear facemasks in shops, pubs and restaurants as customers are, so we’re pleased to see this belatedly coming into force.

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‘However, given that the infection is equally likely to spread in all indoor settings, these rules should also apply to offices and other workplaces.’

Dr Nagpaul called on the Government to do more to help employers make workplaces Covid-secure when home working is not possible, and to cut the number of people permitted to meet indoors.

He added: ‘The prime minister missed an opportunity today to revise the “rule of six” which, as currently interpreted, allows members of six different household to meet indoors whereas previously members of only two households could do so.

‘Data suggests that transmission between households is by far the biggest driver of infection and this should therefore be rectified at the earliest possible opportunity.’

The prime minister told MPs earlier this week there will be a 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants in England, while the call for workers to return to the office was dropped.

Although the ‘rule of six’ remains, weddings are no longer exempt and the number of guests will be capped at 15 as part of the raft of new measures to combat the virus.

Mr Johnson said the restrictions are likely to be in place for up to six months if the number of infections are not brought under control.

The BMA called for the public to be given more information about infection rates in their areas, making it as easy to look up as the weather or pollen count.

Dr Nagpaul said: ‘Members of the public want to do their bit to keep infection rates down – ministers must empower them with the information they need to take proactive action.

‘Not only would these additional measures pose no risk to the economy in the immediate term, they could be key to preventing further lockdowns and significant disruption to business and economic activity.’

He added: ‘Indeed, putting the right safeguards in place to minimise the risk of infection is crucial to providing people with the confidence they need to go out safely and boost the economy.’

Daily infections continue to climb as the UK recorded a further 6,178 coronavirus cases on Wednesday, while 37 more people were recorded to have died within 28 days of testing positive.

That was more than 1,000 higher than Tuesday’s number of infections, the third largest jump in cases ever and the highest daily tally since May.

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