Medic’s face mask blast at Government

A senior health official has hit out at “unclear” Government messaging on masks and is backing calls for all shop staff to wear them.
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North West-based Dr David Wrigley, who is deputy chair of the British Medical Association, said it was an “urban myth” to suggest masks could be dangerous to wear for long periods.

But he also criticised the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick for urging shoppers to be shamed for not wearing a mask.

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Speaking after the BMA issued a call for all shop staff to wear masks, he said: “It is important we try to be tolerant if we see people not wearing a mask as they might have an appropriate reason. It could be in relation to personal health information and patients should not be forced to give their reasons why.”

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He said psychological and physical exemptions were valid reasons for not wearing a mask.

The practicing GP said: “It’s important that we all abide by the regulations. If you can’t distance more than 2m then everyone should use face coverings to protect yourself and others as well.

“The Government have been unclear on it. I don’t think it should be left up to individual companies to decide as that can lead to confusion. Some businesses said to staff they don’t need to wear a face mask while some do.

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“The Government needs to give blanket advice so everyone knows where they stand.”

He said of customers in pubs and restaurants: “If they are not eating or drinking, then they should put the mask on, it’s about being sensible.”

He said anyone wanting a certificate of exemption should not go to the doctor and that people could self-certify and that this message should have been put out more clearly by the Government.

He said there were currently 45,000 known cases of the virus in the North West, the highest of any region in the UK.

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When asked if more testing was leading to a corresponding rise in cases, he said it was the sort of thing Donald Trump would say to suggest it was that simple.

He said: “We are testing and finding positive cases and can then use track and trace to find out where the infection is coming from.

“We have had spikes in certain parts of the country where people work in close proximity in factories and where they may feel unable to say they are unwell. We have to be aware that this deadly virus is still in society.”