First Minister says face coverings in shops not ‘proportionate’ but could revisit policy if pandemic sees upward move

Wearing a face covering while visiting shops in Wales will not be made mandatory, however this advice could be revisited if cases of coronavirus rise again.

There has been increased calls for clarity over the past week in particular on whether the Welsh Government would be updating its guidance on the face masks as lockdown measures continue to be eased.

In Scotland it has been mandatory to wear a face covering in a shop since 10th July, with similar requirements coming into place in England from 24th July.

Here in Wales it will be compulsory to wear a three layer face covering on trains and taxis from 27th July. The move was announced last week to bring the guidance in line with England due to cross border public transport.

It is also advice to wear a face covering when you are unable to social distance.

However speaking at today’s Welsh Government briefing, First Minister Mark Drakeford said he would not be making face masks mandatory when going into a shop or a supermarket.

The first minister said that it would not be “proportionate” due to the low circulation of coronavirus in Wales at present.

He acknowledged that this could be revisited if cases begin to increase.

Mr Drakeford said: “Anybody who feels comfortable wearing a face covering and feels more confident in going into places wearing one is absolutely able to do it here in Wales.”

“If you’re going to a crowded place, then our positive advice or recommendation is that you should wear a face covering.

“But in general, the circulation of the virus in Wales is at such a low ebb, now that it isn’t proportionate to intrude on people’s liberty to the extent that you would say to somebody, you’re not allowed to go into a shop if you aren’t wearing a face covering”

“If the virus comes back into more extensive circulation in Wales, we will revisit that advice.

“In the 21,000 tests that we carried out in Wales over this week end, the rate of positive return was 0.25 per cent.

“You’d have to meet tens of thousands of people in Wales now before you came across someone who is likely to be positive and in those circumstances where mandating face coverings for shopping doesn’t seem to us to be proportionate.

“We’ll revisit it if those circumstances change.”