Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said there could be “some benefit” in people covering their faces while shopping but added it was “not a substitute” for existing lockdown restrictions.
UK ministers are considering the scientific evidence for proposing similar advice.
The guidance is not mandatory and will not be enforced. Sturgeon did emphasise that the advice related to cloth items such as a scarf rather than medical grade facemasks.
She admitted that evidence about the usefulness of face coverings was limited, but that there may be “some benefit if you enter an enclosed space where you will come into contract with multiple people and safe social distancing is difficult”.
The main benefit, she added, was in preventing people who have the virus but are unaware of it from spreading it unwittingly to others.
The Scottish Grocers Federation broadly welcomed the announcement. Chief Executive Pete Cheema said: “The evidence on the effectiveness of face covering is very mixed. However, this move could help to protect staff in convenience stores and as such we are broadly happy to support it.
“Additionally by potentially reducing the infection rate, face covering could ultimately help us move out of lockdown.”
