Face coverings could soon be compulsory in shops and confined spaces, with the government set to make an announcment in the coming days, it has been reported.

At present, face coverings are only mandatory in hospitals and on public transport in England, with anyone not wearing one at risk of receiving a fine. Boris Johnson is now expected to tell the Commons that masks will be necessary in other parts of public life in order to encourage ‘more normal’ living while lockdown eases.

More people are now returning to work, and the Prime Minister has come under increasing pressure to address confusion about what they should be doing when outside their homes. He now has just days to push the new guidance through Parliament before the summer recess begins.

The change to emergency legislation is likely to follow Scotland’s, where face coverings are already mandatory in shops. Speaking on Friday, Johnson said: ‘I do think we need to be stricter in insisting people wear face coverings in confined spaces where they are meeting people they don’t normally meet.

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‘We are looking at ways of making sure that people really do have face coverings in shops, for instance, where there is a risk of transmission.’

Experts have long-welcomed the introduction of compulsory face masks to other parts of public life, with several scientists stating that not wearing one should be seen as taboo as ‘not wearing a seat belt’ this week.

Dr Paul Hunter, professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia, said the PM was ‘right’ to be reviewing England’s position on face coverings. He said shops may be an example of a place where it is not possible to maintain social distancing.

He continued: ‘However, if it is mandated to wear them in shops, this raises the issue of whether they should be mandated in other contexts.’

Dr Hunter also cautioned: ‘The most important thing, however, is that anyone wearing a mask must not assume that they are automatically protected. People should still practice distancing and continue to wash their hands.’

The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics suggested more than half (52%) of adults in Britain who left their home in the week before July 2 to July 5 had worn a face covering. This was up from the previous week, when 43% reported doing so.

Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth said: ‘People just want to do the right thing and are worried about the infection rate. Throughout this pandemic ministers have been slow and behind the curve.

‘Many people are questioning why ministers still haven’t made a decision on face masks. And then we have the Prime Minister publicly dropping hints and sowing more confusion.

‘People want and deserve clarity about how this will work and we will be demanding that in the Commons.’

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