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Boris Johnson in June confirmed wearing a face mask or face covering would be mandatory to be allowed on public transport due to the impossibility to maintain social distancing. The Prime Minister and Health Secretary Matt Hancock have been repeatedly challenged to recommend the use of facial covering indoors as the coronavirus pandemic continues to cause issues across the country. But Royal Society president Venki Ramakrishnan insisted their position is currently “inconsistent” and should be reviewed.

Speaking to the Today programme, Dr Ramakrishnan said: “I would say, and this is also the advice of SAGE, that face-covering or masks should be work where it is not possible to physically distance.

“The Government, for exactly that reason, has mandated it on public transport, we now also require it in hospitals because there’s a serious question of the spread of infections in hospitals.

“But that is a little bit inconsistent, the public will be a little confused to say why should they wear it on trains or buses but not in shops?

“What we would like for the Government is to be a bit stronger and clearer about the messaging and require, whether you are in crowded public spaces where you cannot get away more than two metres.”

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Current Government advice maintains there is no scientific evidence suggesting the use of face masks protects the wearer but urges for commuters to wear a face-covering while on public transport.

The advice reads: “Evidence suggests that wearing a face-covering does not protect you.

“However, if you are infected but have not yet developed symptoms, it may provide some protection for others you come into close contact with.

“ Face coverings do not replace social distancing. If you have symptoms of COVID-19 (cough, and/or high temperature, and/or loss of, or change in, your normal sense of smell or taste – anosmia), you and your household must isolate at home: wearing a face-covering does not change this.”

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