Thank you for contacting me about wearing masks.
I know that the Government is following scientific guidance to ensure that steps are taken to ensure that people are able to go about their business as safely as possible.
New rules about face coverings do not mean people should wear surgical masks or respirators (which need to be kept available for those who need to wear them at work). Instead, people should wear the kind of face covering that can easily be made at home. Face coverings should cover the mouth and nose while allowing you to breathe comfortably, and can be as simple as a scarf or bandana that ties behind the head to give a snug fit. Indeed, the Government has published advice for people on how to make their own face coverings at home.
Some people will be exempt from needing to wear a face covering, for example children under the age of 11. Moreover, some people will have a reasonable excuse not to wear one. This would apply, for instance, to a person who has a disability or a physical or mental illness or impairment which means they cannot wear a face covering. The full list of exemptions and reasonable excuses can be found at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-…
The Government is now recommending the use of face coverings in all enclosed spaces where you are likely to come into contact with people outside your household.
It is important to be sensitive to the needs and experiences of those who have a good reason not to wear a mask. This is why people with such a reason should not be routinely asked to give written evidence of their exemption.
Businesses already have legal obligations to protect their staff under existing employment law. This means taking appropriate steps to provide a safe working environment, which may include providing face coverings where appropriate, alongside other mitigations such as screens and social distancing. According to Government guidance, where face coverings are required for staff, businesses are expected to provide these as part of their health and safety obligations. However, staff are welcome to use their own face coverings if they choose. You can find more information here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/…
I know that some people expressed concern about rumoured health risks of wearing a face covering. However, let me be clear that these claims are false and unsubstantiated. For example, hypoxia, or deprivation of oxygen, is not caused by the breathable materials recommended for face coverings, nor by the prolonged use of medical masks when properly worn in line with recommendations for the product. There is absolutely no evidence that face coverings cause hypercapnia, or too much carbon dioxide in the blood, unless they are entirely air tight: carbon dioxide molecules that you breathe out exit through and around the types of face coverings that are commonly worn. Further, there is no evidence at all to support the claim that face coverings can suppress the body's immune system - they may stop germs getting into your mouth or nose so that the immune system does not have to kick in, but this is not the same as it being suppressed. I believe it is extremely irresponsible for people to promote these myths in any forum, particularly on social media where they have been widely shared, when there is an increasing body of evidence to show that face coverings can reduce the spread of coronavirus and as such can save lives.
I agree that it is vital to balance the need to restrict the spread of the virus without infringing on civil liberties, while allowing the restoration of economic and social life. The Government thinks that face masks help this balance to be struck. It is vital that we do all that we can to protect people, in particular during this resurgence of cases of Covid-19. I am told that the Government is keeping all guidelines under constant review to ensure that any restrictions in place are worthwhile measures in the fight against coronavirus.
Face coverings are not mandatory in public other than in certain situations, like on public transport, in NHS settings and, since 8 August, in all enclosed spaces where you are likely to come into contact with people outside your household. You are not required to wear a face covering at all times that you are in public, such as in parks or while exercising.
Since 24 July 2020, it has been mandatory to wear a face covering in shops and supermarkets in England. This move, the Government asserts, helps give shoppers more confidence to shop safely while also enhancing protection. The British Retail Consortium has said that social distancing measures and face coverings can make shoppers feel more confident to return to the high street. Sadly sales assistants, cashiers and security guards have suffered disproportionately in this crisis. I understand that the death rate of sales and retail assistants is 75 per cent higher among men, and 60 per cent higher among women than in the general population. I support all actions that are being taken to mitigate risk and keep our shopkeepers and retail staff safe - the Government says it believes that masks are one of those actions. The penalty for failing to wear a mask has now doubled to £200 for a first offence.
It is now mandatory for workers in pubs, restaurants, takeaways and shops to wear face coverings unless mitigations are in place, for example screens or visors, as well as supporting workers to safely speak to or support people who rely on lip reading, facial expressions and clear sound.
It is mandatory to wear a face covering when travelling in England, for example on a bus, train, coach, tram, ferry, hovercraft, aircraft or cable car. Transport operators can stop those who are not wearing a face covering, but who should be wearing one, from travelling. The British Transport Police and Transport for London enforcement officers are also assisting with enforcement, and passengers who do not comply with the face covering rules could be fined £200, or £100 if paid within 14 days.
Clients are now expected to wear a face covering immediately before entering a number of indoor settings, which includes hair salons and barbershops, and must keep it on until they leave.
Lip Reading: I agree that it is vital to ensure that patients who are deaf or hard of hearing are not isolated from care through face coverings preventing them from lip reading, particularly children who may not feel confident asking someone they have not heard correctly to repeat themselves. That is why I am glad that a coalition of charities, including the National Deaf Children's Society, Action on Hearing Loss and the Royal Association of Deaf People have joined forces to issue guidance on how to speak with a face mask. These tips are:
1. Write phrases down
2. Use a text to speak app
3. Conduct conversations over video call, where there is no need to wear a mask
4. Try to use a clear face mask or visor
5. Find a quiet place to talk
I would be happy to promote this guidance at all levels, and will work with my colleagues in the Department of Health and Social Care to ensure that NHS Staff are able to protect themselves and others from the virus without restricting communication for those who are hard of hearing or deaf. I welcome that Government public transport guidance states that if you are travelling with, or providing assistance to, someone who relies on lip reading to communicate, you are exempted from the requirement to wear a face mask.
I hope that these measures will help restore confidence and also add further protection to enable people to go about their daily business. However, it is important to keep in mind that this measure is in addition to the existing safety measures, including regular hand washing and observing social distancing.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Craig Whittaker MP
December 2020