AN expert advising the UK Government’s coronavirus response has said he will continue to wear a face mask “indefinitely” despite reports that there are plans to scrap the measure.
Boris Johnson is understood to be preparing to update the nation this week on his plans for “Freedom Day” unlocking on July 19, with multiple newspapers suggesting that he believes a host of domestic measures can end on his “terminus date”.
Professor Adam Finn, from the Government’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), said mask-wearing is "extremely valuable" under certain circumstances and he does not plan to ditch them this month.
READ MORE: UK Government wants 'whole of Union' to lift Covid rules with England on July 19
He told Sky News’ Trevor Phillips On Sunday programme: “Well on a personal level I shall certainly be continuing to wear a mask if I’ve got any symptoms or if I’m in an enclosed space with lots of other people for a prolonged period of time, indefinitely in fact.”
"Mask wearing we've learned is extremely valuable."
— Trevor Phillips on Sunday (@RidgeOnSunday) July 4, 2021
JVCI member, Professor Adam Finn says he will "certainly" continue to wear a face mask in some circumstances "indefinitely" after #COVID19 restrictions ease on 19 July.#Phillips: https://t.co/rcTL04n2QO pic.twitter.com/sz5Cd9ByQu
Prof Finn explained: “I think we learned, as paediatricians, we learned that we can avoid massive problems with children getting sick in the winter by doing these kind of measures.
“We simply didn’t see the epidemics of respiratory viruses last winter that we’ve seen every year throughout my career.
“So I actually now completely understand it, whereas I was puzzled before when I saw Asian people on the Tube wearing masks in the pre-pandemic era.
“So I think mask-wearing is obviously something we’ve learned is extremely valuable to do under certain circumstances. That doesn’t mean I’ll wear a mask all the time but it does mean I will some of the time.”
It emerged today that the UK Government plans to go ahead with relaxing almost all Covid restrictions on July 19, including making mask-wearing voluntary in public spaces excluding hospitals and healthcare areas.
READ MORE: Sajid Javid condemned over 'Freedom Day' announcement for England
Pressed on whether he would “get rid” of his mask after July 19 if permitted to do so, Communities Minister Robert Jenrick said on the same programme: “I will. I don’t particularly want to wear a mask. I don’t think a lot of people enjoy doing it.”
Prof Finn was not alone in recommending masks as a good idea past the English date of July 19.
Professor Stephen Powis (below), national medical director of NHS England, said he believed people would naturally be more cautious and may continue to wear face masks out of choice.
He told the Andrew Marr Show: “I think some people will choose to be more cautious. Some people may choose to wear face masks in particular circumstances, such as crowded environments, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Those habits to reduce infections are a good thing to keep.”
Dr Ellie Cannon also said that wearing a face mask was an "easy win", telling BBC Breakfast: “I’ve heard a lot of people say to me, who travel on the bus or the London Underground particularly in the winter, that they would absolutely put on a face mask, particularly in the winter because we all get used to having these coughs and colds and flu and if you can do something very simple to prevent that, why wouldn’t you?”
READ MORE: New coronavirus cases in Scotland fall to below 3000 for first time in a week
In Scotland, it is hoped that all parts of the country will move to Level 0 of the Scottish Government's five-tier system of Covid restrictions by July 19.
It is then hoped that all restrictions can be removed by August 9, but the situation will be reviewed ahead of each date.
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