Coronavirus: Timeline of government dither and delay on mandatory face masks

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Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

Following months of dither and delay, mixed messaging from the government and a cabinet split, face coverings will become mandatory in shops, supermarkets and takeaways in England from Friday.

Anyone found not to be wearing a mask in each of these settings could be fined up to £100, under plans announced by health secretary Matt Hancock on 13 July.

It is already compulsory to wear a face mask when travelling on public transport.

The debate around face masks has been rumbling on since the Covid-19 pandemic took hold in March. The World Health Organisation (WHO) initially said they were of limited use in tackling the virus.

But the health body updated its official guidance in June, citing growing evidence suggesting that face coverings can help slow the spread of the disease when worn in enclosed spaces.

Some, however, say the evidence is flimsy, arguing that the presence of face masks in public is deterring people form returning to “normal life” and therefore holding back the UK’s economic recovery.

In the UK, tensions in government came to a head on 12 July when Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show that face masks should not be mandatory in shops, appearing to contradict indications made by his boss, Boris Johnson, the previous week.

Mr Hancock made his announcement the following day, meaning England will now join Germany, Spain and Italy in making face masks compulsory inside shops.

The announcement came a little over a week after Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish first minister, made face coverings mandatory in shops, leading some commentators to accuse the PM of caving to pressure to change public advice.

Below is a timeline of some of the major twists and turns and changing advice in the face mask debate.

Downing Street releases video of PM in conversation with England’s deputy chief medical officer, Jenny Harries.

Ms Harries tells the PM that it is a bad idea to wear a face mask unless told to do so by a healthcare professional.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps tells Good Morning Britain there is little value in wearing a face mask.

“It’s absolutely right that we base this [face mask guidance] on the medical advice not on what a politician has woken up and thought about that day.”

Sadiq Khan, mayor of London, urges the government to follow other countries around the world in encouraging the public to wear face masks where social distancing is difficult, including on public transport and shops.

The British Medical Association (BMA) calls on the government to explore the use of face masks in public.

“There is some emerging evidence that if mouths and noses are covered when people are out and about, it may help in controlling the spread of infection of COVID-19 and so save lives,” said BMA council chair Dr Chaand Nagpaul.

Grant Shapps announces face masks will become mandatory on public transport from 15 June.

WHO updates guidance on wearing face masks, saying they should be used in enclosed spaces.

Nicola Sturgeon announces face masks will become mandatory in shops from 10 July.

UK government announces face masks to be made mandatory in shops, supermarkets and takeaways from 24 July.