University of Portsmouth expert questions how effective new government face covering ruling will be
WITH the government today (July 14) set to confirm that face coverings will need to be worn in shops a public health expert from the city’s university has questioned how effective the policy will be.
The new regulation, which is due to come into force from July 24, will mean the mandatory use of face coverings in shops and supermarkets. Anyone failing to comply with the new rule could face a fine of up to £100.
The covering does not have to be a surgical mask but must cover the mouth and nose.
Speaking ahead of the announcement, environment secretary, George Eustice, said: ‘It is about managing the overall risk and any type of covering will be sufficient for this purpose.’
However, Dr Simon Kolstoe, senior lecturer at the School of Health and Care Professions at the University of Portsmouth, has questioned just how effective DIY and non certified masks will be in mitigating the risks of spreading coronavirus.
Dr Kolstoe said: ‘People are being encouraged to make their own face masks. Anyone can make a mask but of course they won’t be anywhere near as effective as the certified masks we have.
‘So we know masks work but the problem is when anyone can just make a mask and we don’t know how effective these masks will be.’