FACE coverings will be mandatory on public transport in Scotland from Monday. Anyone catching a bus, train, ferry or taxi will be required to have a scarf or a mask over their mouth, or they face being left behind.
And the Scottish Government has also confirmed that it is considering making face-coverings mandatory for shoppers too.
Current guidance from the World Health Organisation states that non-medical face-coverings should be worn in public where social distancing is not possible.
They have been compulsory on public transport in England since Monday.
Nicola Sturgeon announced the changes yesterday as she revealed details of Scotland’s move into phase two of the route map out of lockdown.
The First Minister said the scientific evidence that wearing face-coverings can reduce the risk of coronavirus being transmitted.
She told MSPs: “If you have Covid, but maybe don’t realise it because you don’t have symptoms, a face-covering reduces the risk of you passing the virus on to other people.
“And other people wearing face-coverings help to protect you in a similar way.
“It is not an absolute safeguard – and physical distancing, hand washing and good hygiene will always be more important in preventing transmission. But face-coverings can help to reduce the risk of transmission and that is important.”
She added: “For that reason, we have decided that from Monday face coverings will be mandatory on all public transport. That includes taxis and private hire cabs, as well as buses, trains, the Glasgow subway, Edinburgh trams, planes and enclosed areas on ferries.”
There would, she said, be some exemptions. Children under the age of five, people with breathing difficulties and those who have physical conditions which make it hard to keep the mask in place, will all be allowed to travel without a covering.
It will also not apply to drivers who “already protected by a shield of some kind”.
Roz Foyer, STUC general secretary welcomed the announcement: “Our overriding concern is the safety of transport workers and the general public, so we fully support mandatory face-coverings for which transport unions have unanimously argued. “In conjunction with other key safety measures, this is a vital component in giving people the confidence and security to return safely to their work as a careful and sustainable relaxation of lock-down is enacted.”
In her statement, the First Minister promised to report back on making face-coverings mandatory in shops before non-essential retail opens on June 29.”
Face coverings are compulsory in many European countries.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here