Fresh guidance for face coverings coming this week as PM says people “should be wearing masks”

The UK government is set to publish new guidance for face coverings “in the coming days” according to Boris Johnson – increasing speculation that masks will soon become mandatory in public spaces.

The Prime Minister was recently pictured visiting shops in his local constituency whilst wearing a mask – and today confirmed that the evidence had been “growing” in terms of the effectiveness of face coverings.

Johnson also went on to state that people “should be wearing” face coverings in shops and that the government would be saying “a little bit more” later this week.

The PM’s comments today appear to clash with the advice offered by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove, who had suggested it would be better for people to use “common sense” rather than make masks a rule in public spaces.

Face coverings are compulsory on public transport in England, whilst Scotland has already made them mandatory in stores.

Masks are thought to help prevent the wearer from spreading the virus, and have been increasing in usage across the world since the outbreak.

Rules vary between countries, with France, Spain and Germany all introducing compulsory face coverings in public spaces in recent months.