Face coverings to be mandatory on public transport
Face coverings will be mandatory on public transport in England from June 15, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced.
Mr Shapps said "we need to ensure every precaution is taken" on buses, trains, aircraft and ferries as lockdown measures are eased further and passenger numbers increase.
Currently passengers are advised to wear a face covering, but are not stopped from travelling without one. Mr Shapps said face coverings would be "a condition of travel".
He continued: "This will mean that you can be refused travel if you don't comply and you could be fined."
Face coverings can be a scarf, piece of cloth or mask. The government says they are "marginally beneficial as a precautionary measure", and states that evidence suggests face coverings do not protect the wearer, but may protect other people if he or she is infected.
Surgical masks should be reserved for people who need them for protection while at work such as medical staff, according to official advice.
With face coverings becoming the new normal, we called our Home Genie Georgina Burnett to teach us some really simple ways we can craft our own using everyday items found at home.
Here are four easy face masks to make for you and your family.
BANDANA/ SERVIETTE FACE MASK
What you need: Kitchen paper, a rubber band or hair band and a clean bandana or material napkin.
The steps
- Fold the top and bottom lengths of a bandana or fabric serviette to meet in the middle
- Place a coffee filter, piece of kitchen paper or paper napkin on top
- Fold the top and bottom lengths to meet in the middle again (enclosing the filter)
- Put a rubber band or hair band around each end
- Fold the ends to meet at the middle and tuck them into each other
- Place on your face and secure the rubber bands around your ears
- For added protection you can add a coffee filter, piece of kitchen paper or a paper napkin
T-SHIRT FACE MASK
What you need: A clean t-shirt, scissors, kitchen towel or a paper napkin (for extra protection - not essential)
The steps
- Cut a 20cm/4 inch strip off the bottom of the t-shirt
- Snip in the middle so you have one long strip
- Cut elongated semi circles off each end, so there's the right size left in the middle to cover your face
- Place on your face and secure the top straps to the back of your head
- Secure the bottom straps to the top of your head
- Depending on the size of the shirt you can actually make several out of one t-shirt
- For added protection you can add a coffee filter, piece of kitchen paper or a paper napkin
TEA TOWEL FACE MASK
What you need: A clean tea towel, scissors, thread string, ribbon or shoelaces, sticky tape.
The steps
- Cut a 20cm/4 inch strip off the width of a tea towel
- Snip the corners so the seams are open
- Thread string, ribbon or shoelaces through the seams at both ends
- Place the fabric on your face and tie the strings at the back of the head. You can make the ends of the string harder by sticking tape around them.
- For added protection you can add a coffee filter, piece of kitchen paper or a paper napkin
ADAPTED SNOOD/ SCARF FACE MASK
What you will need: A snood or scarf and a rubber band or hair tie.
The steps
- Pull your snood up over your mouth and nose
- Tighten at the back using a rubber band or hair band
- For added protection you can add a coffee filter, piece of kitchen paper or a paper napkin