What exactly Boris Johnson said about the use of face coverings as the UK eases out of lockdown

He said they will be ‘useful’ both for stemming the disease as well as ‘giving people confidence’ that they can go back to work.

Mr Johnson said earlier today that the UK is ‘past the peak of this disease’ and ‘on the downward slope’.

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He promised to deliver a ‘comprehensive plan’ next week on how to get people back to work and children back to school, after taking advice from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage).

“What I think Sage is saying, and what I certainly agree with, is that as part of coming out of the lockdown, I do think that face coverings will be useful both for epidemiological reasons but also for giving people confidence they can go back to work,” the PM said.

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There has been some concern that individuals may be overly cautious about returning to work when measures are eased, after weeks of strong messaging from the Government.

Experts have argued that coverings are unlikely to prevent an individual from contracting the virus, but may reduce the number of infected people who are not showing symptoms from spreading Covid-19.

Chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance has said there is only ‘quite weak’ evidence to show that masks help prevent the transmission of coronavirus.

Concerns have also been raised that strong public uptake of masks could deprive NHS and other essential workers from having the protective equipment they need.

Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said the Government was anxious that people may act in a ‘cavalier’ way if told to wear masks.

“The scientific evidence so far says face coverings can have an effect in preventing an individual from spreading the disease to others if they have it and are asymptomatic,” he said.

“But there is also a worry that some people may think that wearing a mask protects themselves, as distinct to protecting others, and therefore they may behave in a manner that is slightly more cavalier.”