Executive to discuss potential change of policy on face coverings

By Q Radio news

The Northern Ireland Executive is to meet today to discuss whether its policy on face coverings in shops should be changed.

Since the start of August, the use of face coverings has been strongly encouraged but not mandatory.

However, there are concerns that the uptake of face coverings is not yet high enough.

The Executive is due to meet and review the policy on the 20th of August.

The Health Minister, Robin Swann will bring a paper in front of his colleagues today on the issue.

On Monday Mr Swann said the Executive should reconsider its policy.

Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said she supported the call from the Health Minister on the issue.

I fully support the call from health minister for a consistent executive approach to the issue of face coverings. The executive has taken the power to make this mandatory and I support us bringing that forward. Urging everyone to wear them in shops to protect themselves & others

— Michelle O’Neill (@moneillsf) August 3, 2020

Mr Swann said earlier this week that, "While the executive is united on the need for face coverings, there have been differences of opinion on how best this can be achieved."

Speaking to Q Radio news yesterday, the Economy Minister, Diane Dodds, said "We need to get to a point where people feel confident going out into the high streets

"And if making face masks mandatory does that, then that is the way that we will need to proceed."

🎥 I pressed Economy Minister @DianeDoddsMLA on the issue of making face coverings compulsory in shops.

“We need to get to a point where people feel confident going out onto the high streets.”

“And if making face masks compulsory, then that is how we will need to proceeed.” pic.twitter.com/3PIbZGIoN3

— Peter Moor (@pfmoor) August 6, 2020