How do you wear a face covering properly?
Face coverings will be made compulsory in shops and supermarkets in England from July 24, but how do you wear one properly?
Dr Sarah Jarvis ran a "Covid clinic" during ITV News’ lunchtime news explaining the correct way to wear a face mask and how to remove them properly.
“If you are wearing a mask, you are mostly wearing it for other people, to protect other people, and if you contaminate your face, you could increase your own risks, so it’s essential to put them on, take them off and wear them properly,” Dr Jarvis explained.
Key tips on wearing a face covering properly
Do not wear them under your nose or under your chin – make sure your nose and mouth are covered
Do not peel them over your face to remove them – as you could contaminate your face as you do so
Put them on using the straps round the back of your head or the back of your ears
Wash your hands before putting on a face covering
Do not touch your face when putting on a face covering
Take them off by using the straps of the covering, not touching the front or the back of your face covering
Put it away somewhere safe until you can dispose of it
Dr Jarvis explained if you take a face covering off after leaving a shop, you should use a new mask when entering another shop or leave it on, as long as you don’t touch it.
She said to protect against a second wave of coronavirus during winter, we all have “to take this added precaution, it’s not an alternative, it’s an addition".
“We are at a different stage now, the evidence is therefore different for wearing masks, and it will make a difference at this stage,” Dr Jarvis added.