Britain is to stockpile non-medical face masks for people to wear while shopping and on public transport after Nicola Sturgeon recommended the use of t-shirts and scarves. Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office Minister, confirmed that a "domestic effort" has been launched to slow the spread of coronavirus by producing masks that "limit the droplets that each of us might be responsible for". Challenged by Labour's Rachel Reeves to build up a stockpile for the public, he also told the Commons they would not be the "high-spec surgical face masks" required in the NHS but could be used in "particular settings." Whitehall insiders said the Government wants to delay an announcement over its guidance for England on wearing face coverings until enough have been stockpiled. Unlike Ms Sturgeon, they said UK ministers were not happy with telling people to use cloth coverings, which they think "will not do any good at all" at slowing the virus. The announcement came after the Scottish First Minister published official guidance that Scots over the age of two should wear a cloth covering, such as a scarf or t-shirt, in "enclosed spaces" indoors where social distancing is difficult. She cited the examples of shops and public transport. Rather than protecting the wearer, the First Minister said the main benefit was helping prevent asymptomatic carriers who do not realise they have the virus from passing it on. The change ramped up pressure on Boris Johnson to follow suit in England, with Ms Sturgeon stating she assumed that UK ministers had seen the same scientific advice she had. But Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, hit back by telling the daily Downing Street briefing that there was only "weak science" on face masks and "the most important thing" remains social distancing. He was backed by Dame Angela McLean, the Ministry of Defence's chief scientific adviser, who said there is "weak evidence of a small effect" of masks preventing carriers passing on the virus. She said the recommendation from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) to UK ministers, which they are considering before coming to a final decision, is "completely clear" on this.
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