Workington MP reacts to government re-introduction of masks

Measure were brought in again by the government earlier this week to make mask wearing mandatory on public transport and in shops and other settings including banks, post offices and hairdressers.

However the MP is not convinced that the re-introduction of masks into these spaces is the right idea from the government.

He said:"I don't think that the evidence in their, no one yet has provided evidence on the efficacy of masks and particularly the type of masks that the majority of us wear, I do accept that there is some benefit to properly fitted respirators but that is obviously not the majority, so I just think that efficacy is poor.

"I also think that it sets the wrong tone when omicron is highly likely from everything we can see now, is highly likely from every everything we can see now to be less virolous , and from what we can see now vaccines can now prevent the vast,vast majority of serious illness, so I just think particularly going into Christmas when given the last two years, everybody should be out enjoying themselves, getting involved in the socialising that we have missed and is a really important part of life, I just think it sets the wrong tone.

"I understand that the government wanted to show decisiveness, but I'm just not convinced that this is the way to do it."

Though the reintroduction of masks in England in shops will bring the nation back closer into line with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, they are not being required in pubs and restaurants.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid has however told families to plan for Christmas “as normal” despite the new rules to combat the Omicron coronavirus variant.

He said on Sunday it was “nowhere near” time to reintroduce social distancing rules and work-from-home guidance, despite a raft of precautionary measures being reintroduced to tackle the concerning strain of Covid-19.