Coronavirus: Advising public to wear masks on a voluntary basis would be ‘common sense’, says expert

'If they are coughing and spluttering then it makes complete sense to wear masks in order to protect other people'

The chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners has said it “makes complete sense” to advise the general public to wear masks if they are coughing to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus.

Professor Martin Marshall’s comments come as the Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (SAGE) are expected to present its findings on the usage of masks on Thursday.

However, he also warned that there is no evidence that healthy people would benefit from wearing a mask, and may even become more at risk of contracting an infection.

Professor Marshall told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “There’s no research evidence to support wearing masks if you are basically fit and well, indeed if people wear masks there’s a risk they play around with it, they play with their eyes more and maybe you’re even at a higher risk of picking up an infection.

“However it is common sense that if they are coughing and spluttering then it makes complete sense to wear masks in order to protect other people.

“I think the guidance that we’re expecting to hear is that the wearing of face masks is a voluntary activity not mandated and it certainly makes a lot of sense to focus limited resources that we have at the moment on those who have greatest need and that’s the health professionals.

“This sophisticated kit is likely to be more rigorous, more useful, but actually it’s perfectly reasonable to wear a bandanna around your mouth or whatever, that will work, it won’t be quite as good but it will be good enough,” he added.

After its discussion, SAGE is expected to tell ministers that medical grade masks should be prioritised for health workers. Members of the public should refrain from wearing such masks, but are free to wear a scarf or homemade mask.

Current advice by Public Health England (PHE) recommends masks for NHS staff and social care workers but does not suggest other people wear them outside.

Brandon Lewis, the Northern Ireland secretary, said there has been no new decision on the matter ahead of the SAGE meeting today.

He told BBC Breakfast: “Sage is meeting today but we haven’t yet had that advice as ministers yet. I don’t want to get ahead of ourselves and prejudge what will come out of Sage just yet.

“There’s no change at the moment.”

Last week, London Mayor Sadiq Khan called for a change in advice after he said wearing face masks should be compulsory on public transport.

He said the measure would be an “additional protection” on top of social distancing and other government advice to stop the spread of coronavirus during lockdown.

“The evidence I’ve seen is if you wear a non-medical facial covering, it doesn’t necessarily limit your chances of catching the virus,” he said.

“What it does do, if you yourself are pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic, it reduces the chances of you giving the virus to somebody else. And so wherever you can’t keep your social distance, you should be wearing a face covering.”