From 24th July 2020, it will be compulsory to wear face covering in shops as well as on public transport in England.
There are some exemptions.
According to the official government guidelines (under section 3):
You do not need to wear a face covering if you have a legitimate reason not to. This includes:
- young children under the age of 11
- if you have physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability
- if you are travelling with or providing assistance to someone who relies on lip reading to communicate
- to eat or drink
- if a police officer or other official requests you remove your face covering
There are scenarios when you are permitted to remove a face covering:
- for identification purpose in bank, post office, shops
- if speaking with people who rely on lip reading, facial expressions and clear sound.
The UK government has released templates for exemption cards and badges for mobile devices and for printing. You can find them here.
Why wear face masks now?
A recent study from Oxford’s Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science indicated that cloth face coverings (including homemade masks made of the correct material), are effective in reducing the spread of COVID-19 for the wearer and those around them.
Universal masking method has been widely used in South East Asia since the SARs from 2003. Wearing a mask when becoming ill or for allergy reasons has become a part of the culture and been widely accepted.
Anyone can search and see the COVID-19 statistics from countries like Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea etc (where everybody wore face masks) to see the infection and death rates had been very low compare to places in the West such as Europe, USA and South America (where the country refuses to acknowledge face mask/coverings are effective against COVID-19).
In recent months, many other countries have introduced universal masking methods to help reduce the spread of the virus, including the UK.
Face mask vs Face coverings
Respirators
N95, FFP1/2/3 and other forms are seal-tested respirator masks used for protecting health care workers and professionals (eg construction workers).
These masks seal around the nose and mouth, have tangled fibres that contain filters.
Surgical Masks
This is a form of personal protective equipment (PPE), usually worn by health workers that fits loosely over the nose and mouth, often blue squares that hook over the ears.
Cloth Face Coverings
These are face masks that can be purchased or made at home using fabrics.
Research shows tightly woven fabrics such as cotton, denim and tea cloths filter the best and is the most effective.
Face coverings should fit well on the face and have loop around the ears/around the back of the neck for better coverage.
Where to buy face masks online?
Here are a few picks:
Supa Labs 50 Pcs Disposable Face Masks, CE Verified and Tested, Non Sterile – Amazon.
Oscar Apparels Reusable Face Mask, 100% BCI Cotton with Elastic Loop (Pack of 5) – Amazon.