SAGE has urged HM’s Government to make the wearing of face coverings outdoors in crowded outdoor spaces mandatory.
In a recommendation made on January 13, experts said advice on face masks ‘should be strengthened’.
The group asked members of the public to consider wearing them outside in crowded areas including parks, supermarket queues or outdoor markets.
The January 13 paper, submitted to Government by the SAGE Environmental and Modelling group (EMG) group, said: ‘Consideration should be given to using face coverings in a wider range of settings where people could be asymptomatic and may be in close proximity (<2m).
‘This may include outdoor spaces where it is difficult to maintain distance and people may be close together for extended periods (medium confidence). ‘
It added: ‘As a precautionary measure it is recommended that public advice on wearing of fabric face coverings should be strengthened to more effectively promote their correct wearing, good hygiene practices associated with their use, and advice on the selection of effective face coverings (medium confidence).
‘Although there are uncertainties in the reasons why the B117 [Kent] virus variant is more transmissible, the behaviour of respiratory particles is not likely to have changed (high confidence).
‘It is possible that transmission can happen with a reduced duration of exposure to someone who is infectious (medium confidence).
‘Physical distancing and use of face coverings are therefore both important mitigation strategies to reduce transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
‘However, these mitigation measures are likely to be needed to be applied more consistently and effectively to be able to mitigate transmission of the B117 variant (high confidence).’
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