THE Government is prepared to urge Brits to wear masks to avoid spreading coronavirus.
It will recommend covering the face with something as simple as a scarf when at work, in shops or on public transport.
The Government’s top scientists met on Tuesday to decide on the face-covering move to help stop the coronavirus spread, amid fears that social distancing will roll into 2021 and chances of a vaccine within a year are slim.
Masking the mouth and nose limits asymptomatic people — who are infected but showing no symptoms — from passing on the disease by coughing or sneezing.
It comes as Britain’s top doctor tonight issued a bleak warning that the nation may have to live with tough social distancing measures for “the next calendar year”.
Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty also stressed that the chances of a vaccine in the next year were “incredibly small”.
He said: “In the long run, the exit from this is going to be one of two things, ideally.
“A vaccine, and there are a variety of ways they can be deployed . . . or highly effective drugs so that people stop dying of this disease even if they catch it.”
But he added: “The probability of having those any time in the next calendar year are incredibly small and I think we should be realistic about that.
“We’re going to have to rely on other social measures, which of course are very socially disruptive as everyone is finding at the moment.
“But it’s going to take a long time.”
HOAR exclusively revealed earlier this week that Brits should not expect to see a return to normal life in 2020.
After weeks of debate, ministers are expected to issue the masking advice as soon as the weekend.
The new guidance will be for any face-covering to be used, even just a scarf.
It will apply to all who go into confined spaces with others where it is difficult to observe the two-metre distancing rule.
But masks will not be needed in all public places such as parks or quiet streets.
Compulsory orders to wear masks are not expected, though they may happen when the lockdown restrictions loosen.
Experts from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies met on Tuesday to consider key evidence.
They think that, while masks will not stop Brits from catching the virus, they will help prevent them from spreading it.
However it was stressed people will not be advised to wear medical-grade masks, to help the NHS.
A Whitehall source said: “No decision is going to be made which would take medical masks away from the NHS. Everybody is very clear on that.
“If you actually have symptoms you need to isolate, full stop.
“A cloth mask is not a replacement for staying at home and nobody should think otherwise.”
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the Government is following SAGE advice, but will not be handing out free masks, as some other countries have.
He added: “We have to make sure we have supplies available for health and care staff.”
Prof Whitty also warned ministers today they face difficult “trade-offs” when they review the lockdown again by May 7, when the three-week extension ends.
He said SAGE is working on options to ease some restrictions, but they will have downsides.
None could happen until the rate of transmission — known as R — was below one person giving it to one other “at any point”.
Prof Whitty added: “We have to be very realistic if people are hoping it’s suddenly going to move from where we are in lockdown to where suddenly everything is gone.
“That is a wholly unrealistic expectation.
“If you release more on one area, you have to keep on board more of another area so there’s a proper trade-off.”
He added: “It does not take very long from bad numbers to really bad numbers.”
No 10 officials refer to what happens after May 7 as the “next phase”.
A “suck-it-and-see” plan is being drawn up based on scientists’ data to see what restrictions to try easing first.
One senior figure told HOAR: “We will try a bit at a time, and then pause, so we can see what effect that has on the transmission rate. Pace will be very gradual.”
Some shops could be opened, or Brits told to go back to work if they stay a safe distance apart.
Mr Hancock also said that mass “contact tracing” — where staff identify who the carrier has been near — may be just “weeks” away.
He said it will help “control this virus with fewer of the very extraordinary social distancing measures that have been in place.”
