'No plans' to encourage people to wear face masks in Wales

There are "no plans" to ask people to wear face masks in Wales, the Chief Medical Officer has told a daily press briefing.

Dr Frank Atherton said Sage, the government's scientific advisory group, had looked at the issue and found there to be a "potential small effect", but Mr Atherton said it is "really quite marginal" in terms of enclosed spaces.

He added that there was "no evidence" that wearing face masks in the general public, for example outdoors, has any benefit.

Dr Atherton also warned that the widespread use of face masks could jeopardise supplies for NHS and social care workers.

He told the press briefing: "Sage also did point out quite rightly that there are dis-benefits potentially from using face masks in that way, first of all the risk that face masks could leach from public sector and hospitals in particular into the community. So there are a number downsides to potential use of face masks."

It comes after the Scottish government recommended people cover their faces while in some enclosed spaces, such as shops and public transport.

But Dr Atherton reiterated there were no plans for Wales to follow suit.

"I know Scotland has developed some guidance which is not mandatory by any means, but again we watch what happens around that. At the moment there are no plans in Wales to move in that direction."

When asked what advice he would give to a member of his own family going to the shops or getting on a bus, he said social distancing is the most important advice to follow.

"Unless anything in the science changes... what's important is maintaining that social distance ... I think that's far more important than face masks."

  • Watch the full press conference with Dr Frank Atherton here

Dr Atherton also told the press briefing that lockdown measures are working, resulting in a reduction in the number of cases, hospital admissions and ITU admissions in Wales.

But he warned "this virus is not finished with us yet", and said lifting lockdown measures too widely or too quickly could lead to a resurgence.

He also spoke of the "hidden harms" of people not using the NHS when they need to for other medical issues and urged people not to shy away from seeking healthcare.