Wear face coverings ‘to keep people, particularly retail workers, safe’ - Derry MP

The Foyle MP said that wearing a face covering will reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission and will help protect others.

Mr Eastwood was speaking after the Northern Ireland Executive Ministers agreed to legislate to ensure they have the powers to make the use of face coverings mandatory in a number of indoor settings.

However, while face coverings in shops are mandatory in England from today, this will not be implemented immediately in the north.

Instead, a publicity campaign will encourage the wearing of face coverings, and the Executive will consider the impact of this campaign at its meeting on August 20.

If there has not been a significant increase in the use of face coverings by this stage, the Executive will implement the power to make this mandatory.

Colum Eastwood MP said: “Over the last 16 weeks, people have shown a selfless willingness to do whatever is necessary to keep each other safe from the spread of Covid-19. We need to keep that spirit up if we’re to beat this virus.

“I know that it can be physically uncomfortable but the medical and scientific evidence shows that wearing face coverings reduces the risk of transmission. The SDLP has pressed for the introduction of a more robust policy and campaign to encourage the use of face coverings to keep people, and particularly retail workers, safe.

“It’s important that we keep doing all we can to keep our friends, families and communities safe.”