'Ongoing need' for Scots to wear face masks after restrictions go

The Scottish Government has said there will be an “ongoing need” for face masks beyond August 9, when all other coronavirus restrictions are expected to be lifted.

The country is due to move into level zero on July 19, after easing was delayed by three weeks. All major legal restrictions are expected to be lifted in early August – beyond the government’s five-tier Covid-19 system.

In England, however, whether or not to wear face coverings will be up to individuals a UK cabinet minister said.

Speaking ahead of the removal of all legal restrictions down south on July 19, housing secretary Robert Jenrick said people would have to take “personal responsibility”, including on masks.

The easing of restrictions this month comes a year after wearing face coverings became a legal requirement.

Jenrick told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show he wanted the UK’s four nations to “move as one”.

The Scottish Government said all changes to legal restrictions would come before Holyrood.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Decisions on baseline measures have not yet been made, and we will engage with sectors to gain their views. In considering future baseline measures to retain beyond level zero (scheduled to take effect from 9 August 9), we will take account of social and economic factors as well as the epidemiological impact on transmission and will keep measures under review.

“As has been our approach from the outset, we will continue to use evidence and judgement to ensure all our decisions are necessary and proportionate. All changes to legal restrictions will be scrutinised by parliament.

“As the First Minister has set out, we will have to manage living with covid-19 for some time to come, even when we are able to move beyond level zero.

“There will still be some ongoing need for face coverings, for example on public transport and in retail, and we will be working with sectors to establish baseline mitigations and produce further guidance by end of July.”