The Indepenent has reported statements from the British Medical Association (BMA), amongst others.The doctors’ union is also calling on the government to ask all members of the public to cover their mouths and noses while outside their homes.

“Common sense tells you that a barrier between people must offer a level of protection, however small,” said Dr Chaand Nagpaul, BMA council chairman. “The government must pursue all avenues of reducing the spread of infection. This includes asking the public to wear face coverings to cover mouths and noses when people leave home for essential reasons.”