Coronavirus masks: Boris Johnson signals U-turn over 'useful' face coverings

Boris Johnson has said face coverings will be "useful" when lockdown restrictions are eased to "give people confidence they can go back to work".

It comes two days after Health Secretary Matt Hancock said there was only "weak science" supporting advice from the Scottish government that people should wear face coverings in shops and on public transport.

"I do think face coverings will be useful," the prime minister said during the government's daily briefing on the COVID-19 crisis.

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"What I think Sage [the government's scientific advisory group] is saying, what I certainly agree with, is that as part of coming out of the lockdown, I do think face coverings will be useful.

"Both for epidemiological reasons but, also, for giving people confidence that they can go back to work.

"You're going to be hearing more about that and that kind of thing next week."

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced on Tuesday that cloth coverings should be used when social distancing was hard to maintain.

But asked later that day whether the recommendation was likely to be adopted across the UK, Mr Hancock said the government's position had not changed and that there was "weak science" supporting the advice.

And the PM's latest statement also appeared to contradict Professor Angela McLean's comments at Tuesday's daily coronavirus briefing.

She had said Sage found there was "weak evidence of a small effect in which a face mask can prevent a source of infection going from somebody who is infected to the people around them".

"The answer is clear that the evidence is weak and the effect is small, and we have passed that on to our colleagues in government with which to make a decision," she said.

The apparent divisions around face coverings within Sage would appear to reflect those among scientists generally.

While some praised Scotland's decision to advise people wear them while shopping and on public transport, describing it as a "no-brainer", others suggested the decision was political and not supported by evidence.

And Sky News' poltical editor Beth Rigby said both the government's change of position and the PM's use of the word "confidence" was significant.

"It's a big change in position from the prime minister to what other ministers have said," he said.

"Indeed, Matt Hancock said, only earlier this week, there was weak evidence for the usefulness of face masks. The prime minister completely changed position on that when asked.

"Confidence is actually a really critical thing here. We've been talking a lot about ending the lockdown, but when you look at the public mood, people are very happy with the lockdown, they're comfortable with it, they understand it, now they feel safe.

"The government have to give people confidence to go outside again, to begin to resume a new normal way of life and maybe face masks is part of that strategy."