2. Statement by the First Minister: Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:08 pm on 29 April 2020.

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Photo of Mark Drakeford Mark Drakeford Labour 2:08, 29 April 2020

I'll do my best to provide an answer to the Member's questions about the advice of a sub-committee in 2016—I don't think Members will expect me to have answers to that just at my fingertips.

On the issue of non-medical face coverings by members of the public, we remain in discussion with our own chief medical officer about the advice that he would provide on that. We're of course interested in the guidance that was published in Scotland yesterday. There are upsides and downsides to any course of action. Many members of the public are already wearing coverings of that sort, and clearly it gives those people confidence to resume parts of daily life. Our own chief medical officer, in the discussions that I've had with him already, points to the danger that people can take false reassurance from wearing face coverings of that sort. Quite certainly, if anybody thought, having a symptomatic cough, that putting a face mask on makes it safe for you to go out, they would not be following good advice. So, we continue in discussion with the chief medical officer. He will formalise his advice, no doubt, at some point, and once his advice is formal, then of course I'll be happy to make that public.