No plans to make masks compulsory in workplaces, says Hancock

UK ministers are not considering making masks compulsory in workplaces, the Health Secretary has said.

French officials are planning to make wearing face coverings compulsory in most work environments as the country faces a rise in cases.

Face coverings are required in many indoor settings in England, but are not currently required for “employees of indoor settings”.

Asked about the move in France, Matt Hancock told BBC News: “We constantly look at the scientific advice and the answer here is we’re not currently considering doing that.

“The reason is the evidence from NHS Test and Trace for where people catch the disease is that very largely they catch it from one household meeting another household, usually in one of their homes.

“So it is that household transmission that is the core root of passing on this virus in this country. The amount of people who have caught it in workplaces is relatively low, from the evidence we’ve got.”

Officials have introduced a number of guidelines to help workplaces become Covid-secure.