However responding to a question from a journalist at the daily Downing Street press conference, Mr Johnson said: “What I think Sage is saying – and what I certainly agree with – is that, as part of coming out of the lockdown, I do think that face coverings will be useful, both for epidemiological reasons, but also for giving people confidence that they can go back to work. You will be hearing more about that kind of thing next week.”
Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London who chairs Transport for London which runs the London Underground, said: “I am pleased that the Prime Minister has said that non-medical face coverings will play an important role as we eventually look to lift lockdown restrictions.
“This is something I and others have been pushing the Government to change the guidance on.
Transport
One sticking point on lifting the lockdown will be public transport.
With people beginning to return to work – Mr Johnson will not want to see the network become a cesspit for spreading infection.
To that end, one-way systems could be introduced at train stations to help people use public transport again after lockdown measures are lifted, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps revealed.
Hand sanitiser on trains and two metre markers on platforms are also among the ideas being considered by ministers to get the country moving again.
Mr Shapps told Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday: “I am very concerned about people being able to wash their hands, thats still by far the most important advice, above anything else, even above face masks and the rest of it. The basic hygiene, the hand washing.
“We can help with that by trying to have hand sanitiser, one way systems, spacing on platforms and bus stops and that sort of thing, clearly marked out.”
Forcing passengers to sit apart from each other has also been floating around as a possible solution.
More Stories
As the pandemic wreaks havoc on TV and movie ‘love lives’, intimacy coordinators need to find ways to adapt