UK Government Advises Public To Wear Face Masks

According to the official guidelines put out, people should 'wear a face covering in enclosed spaces where social distancing is not always possible and they come into contact with others that they do not normally meet, for example on public transport or in some shops'.

The objective is not to protect the wearer from catching the disease but to stop them from spreading it.

The document sets out the three phases the government is planning to follow as the country starts to come out of lockdown.

This includes, from this Wednesday (13 May), people being 'actively encouraged' to go back to work, as long as they are able to do it safely and if they are unable to work from home.

It also lays out the possibility for schools and businesses, including some sporting events and non-essential shops, to reopen from 1 June at the earliest.

While other businesses, which lend themselves to close contact with others, such as pubs, clubs, hairdressers and salons could start to reopen from 4 July.

The government has also advised businesses to rethink the way they operate, instead creating 'redesigning work spaces' to help prevent the spread of the virus.

While addressing the country's older population and those with underlying medical issues, who have been advised to shield themselves during the pandemic, it states that the guidance will be kept under review but that 'it is likely that the government will continue to advise people who are clinically extremely vulnerable to shield beyond June'.

And though some have criticised the government's handling over the relaxation of lockdown measures, claiming Mr Johnson is thinking of the country's economy over the health of its people, the documents states otherwise.

Rather than picking one over the other, it claims that both have been taken into consideration with the hope of finding a balance between them.

The report says the objective is to 'return life to as close as normal as possible, for as many people as possible, as fast and as fairly as possible... in a way that avoids a new epidemic, minimises lives lost and maximises health, economic and social outcomes'.

This comes after Mr Johnson yesterday (10 May) revealed the government's new slogan to help tackle the pandemic.

Moving away from 'stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives', the PM informed the country that the aim was now 'stay alert, control the virus, save lives'.