Health Secretary Matt Hancock has defended his party’s refusal to recommend face masks as the Government insisted the joint UK approach has not broken down.
Speaking at the daily Downing Street press conference Hancock insisted that Ministers were guided by the science in the fight against coronavirus.
Standing next to him, Professor Angela McLean, Deputy Chief Scientific Adviser, said there is “weak evidence of a small effect in which a face mask can prevent a source of infection going from somebody who is infected to the people around them”.
She added: “But the answer is clear that the evidence is weak and the effect is small, and we have passed that on to our colleagues in Government with which to make a decision.”
It comes after Nicola Sturgeon advised Scots to wear face coverings when out in public - but stressed the advice is not mandatory.
The First Minister announced the guidance on covering up to prevent the spread of coronavirus this lunchtime.
But she stressed the evidence guiding her was "limited and not overwhelming".
Sturgeon said that face coverings are not a substitute for staying at home, but insisted there are "some benefits" to be yielded if the coverings are used in crowded shops or on public transport.
Hancock said the government’s scientific advisory committee, Sage, has sent its review on whether masks should be worn to Ministers and said there was no hold-up in making a decision.
He said: “ Sage’s review has been sent to ministers for consideration and once a decision has been reached we will announce it publicly.”
He insisted the announcement by Sturgeon did not mean that the joint UK approach to tackling coronavirus was breaking down.
He added: “There have been points in the response so far when announcements have been made at ever so slightly different times. By and large we have moved forwards with a single four-nations approach.
"I think all the administrations have all said they hope that to continue to be the case and we continue to work closely with them.”
