Coronavirus: Government publishes guidance on how to make face coverings using old T-shirts

Britons are now being advised to wear face masks on public transport and in some shops where social distancing is not possible.

After weeks of insisting that there was little scientific evidence to suggest that such coverings were effective in preventing the spread of coronavirus, the government has changed its advice.

The updated guidance has been published in a 50-page blueprint for lifting the UK out of lockdown, expanding on a speech from Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sunday night that many had said was confusing.

Details included in “Our Plan to Rebuild: The UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy” suggest people should wear face-coverings in enclosed spaces where social distancing is not always possible and where they come into contact with others who they do not normally meet, such as on public transport or in some shops.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon had recommended face coverings be worn in “enclosed spaces” last month, contradicting the message consistently put forward at the daily Downing Street news briefings.

Transport For London had also already advised those still reliant on buses and the Tube network to wear face masks, although the government is urging people who need to go to work to walk or cycle where possible.

So as not to place added pressure on supplies needed by NHS staff and care home workers, the government has issued instructions for making face masks at home, using elastic bands and cotton fabric or an old T-shirt.

Here’s how to make one with an old T-shirt:

First, cut a straight line across the width of the T-shirt (front and back) approximately 20cm from the bottom.

From a point 2cm below the top right-hand corner of the fabric, make a 15cm horizontal cut through both sides of the fabric that is parallel to the top of the rectangle.

Cut down towards the bottom of the fabric until you reach approximately 2cm above the bottom edge. From here, make another 15cm cut that runs parallel to the bottom of the fabric to make a rectangle that can be discarded.

To make the ties, cut open the edge of the two long strips of fabric.

Unfold the main piece of fabric and place over the mouth and the nose. The four strips act as ties to hold the cloth face covering in place and should be tied behind the head and around the neck.

Here’s how to make one with cotton fabric and elastic bands:

You will need two 25cm x 25cm squares of cotton fabric, two 20cm pieces of elastic (or string or cloth strips), scissors, and needle and thread.

First, cut out two 25cm x 25cm squares of cotton fabric and stack the two squares on top of each other.

Fold over one side by 3/4 cm and hem, then repeat on the opposite side.

Make two channels by folding the double layer of fabric over 1.5cm along each side and stitching this down.

Run a 20cm length of elastic (or string or cloth strip) through the wider hem on each side of the covering – these will be the ear loops.

Use a large needle to thread it through, before tying the ends tightly.

If you only have string, you can make the ties longer and tie the covering behind your head.

Then you need to gently pull on the elastic so that the knots are tucked inside the hem.

Gather the sides of the covering on the elastic and adjust so the covering fits your face, and then securely stitch the elastic in place to keep it from slipping. These elastic loops fit over the ears.

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Public Health England says people could also use a scarf or bandana as an alternative to a homemade mask.

In any case, people should wash their hands or use hand sanitiser before putting them on and taking them off.

Additional advice includes:

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth at all times.
• Store used face coverings in a plastic bag until they can be washed.
• Do not touch the front of the covering or the part that has been in contact with your mouth and nose.
• Wash the covering regularly – it can go in with other laundry, using normal detergent.

Why is the government now advising people to wear face coverings?

The change in advice follows “careful consideration of the latest scientific evidence from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE)”, the Department of Health (DoH) said.

It said face coverings can help “reduce the risk of transmission” of coronavirus “in some circumstances”.

They do not need to be worn outdoors, or while exercising, in schools, or in workplaces such as offices and retail, according to the DoH.

They also do not need to be worn by people who may find them difficult to wear, such as children aged under two, primary school children who cannot use them without assistance, or by people who may have problems breathing while wearing a face covering.

England’s chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, said wearing a face covering was “an added precaution that may have some benefit in reducing the likelihood that a person with the infection passes it on”.

But he added: “The most effective means of preventing the spread of this virus remains following social distancing rules and washing your hands regularly.

“It does not remove the need to self-isolate if you have symptoms.”

How do face coverings help reduce the spread of coronavirus?

COVID-19 can be spread directly by droplets from coughs, sneezes and speaking.

Evidence shows face coverings can help in reducing the spread of droplets and therefore potentially infecting others, the DoH said.

This could help to reduce the spread of infection as lockdown measures start to be lifted, it added.

The government says it will not be supplying face coverings because home items and fabrics which are readily available can be used to make them.

It also stresses that it is important to wash face coverings after every use.

Research from the World Health Organisation showed that where masks were recommended for prolonged periods of time, some wearers failed to maintain good handwashing practices or follow social distancing policies, the DoH warned.

But a spokesman added: “As England has demonstrated strong adherence to social distancing, the government is confident face coverings can be recommended as an added precaution in certain environments rather than an essential part of social distancing policies.”

Professor Whitty and the government’s chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, are among the senior government figures to have previously downplayed the effectiveness of face coverings.

However, they have been mandated by some European countries including Italy and France.

Dr Brian McCloskey, former director of global health at Public Health England, told Sky News he had not seen any change in the scientific evidence to suggest that face coverings are effective.

But he acknowledged that they may be more useful in helping people feel at ease when out of the house.

“Wearing a face covering is very unlikely to stop you getting infected,” he said.

“There is slightly more evidence that you could stop infecting someone else, but if you are symptomatic then you shouldn’t be travelling in the first place.”

(c) Sky News 2020: Coronavirus: Government publishes guidance on how to make face coverings using old T-shirts