Facemasks
Thank you for your recent correspondence about facemasks.
As I am sure you will have guessed, I have received a large amount of correspondence about this issue and I am seeking to keep across the debate in parliament as well as in the email. However, I do not have the means to provide bespoke responses to everyone in every circumstance so please forgive me. By all means if you have a specific point, case or issue please to let me know by response and I will be my best to answer it for you, thank you so much for your understanding.
I support the time limited imposition of face coverings to protect others from the virus on transport and in shops, to protect others.
I come from a position that we are working through arguably the worst public health crisis for a generation and whilst I am pleased that some of the restrictions that we have faced since March have been gradually lifted. As evidence changes and we learn more about this brand new virus, so must out policies and in turn our behaviour as a country.
It has been a very difficult period for all of us, and whilst I would wish for circumstances to be different, and progress has been made to tackle this crisis, this new virus has not gone away. I also suspect that we will be living with the virus for some time so we need to change our behaviours by balancing the existence of this virus whilst continuing our daily lives as normal as can be possible in line with the difficult realities that we are facing.
Early in the lockdown, I applauded the crucial role of shop assistants keeping supermarkets and general stores open so we could buy food, medicine and essential supplies. More shops have opened over time. As the Secretary of State for Health told us in the House on 14 July (https://bit.ly/2WpliLE) sales assistants, cashiers and security guards have suffered disproportionately in this crisis with the death rate of assistants being 75% higher among men and 60% higher among women than in the general population. I am pleased that we are restoring shopping, but shop assistants and shopkeepers must be kept safe. I think that we will only be able to deal with the virus in society if we think about ourselves as part of our wider community. The science tells us that by wearing a face covering, you will be protecting other people and the Secretary of State for Health has also told us that face covering can help shoppers to feel even more confident to return to our High Streets.
I accept that wearing a facemask is an imposition in some ways and I hope that such a measure is time limited.
I also note that that the wearing of face masks may cause particular challenges for the hearing impaired community in Bosworth. After making enquiries, I am glad that a coalition of charities, including the National Deaf Children's Society, Action on Hearing Loss and the Royal Association of Deaf People have joined forces to issue guidance on how to speak with a face mask. These tips are:
1. Write phrases down
2. Use a text to speak app
3. Conduct conversations over video call, where there is no need to wear a mask
4. Try to use a clear face mask or visor
5. Find a quiet place to talk
Jo Churchill, Health Minister is also working with industry to make sure that clear face masks will also be available.
The wearing of face masks is also something that we have not faced in our generation. The masks can feel uncomfortable, and from my perspective as a practicing medical professional, wearing a facemask does not mean that we stop handwashing, or not comply social distancing. We must also be mindful that some people will be exempt from wearing these masks due to medical reasons as well as children under 11. Fortunately the evidence of effects in children of the virus means they are least effected, and as a result after school clubs and holiday clubs particularly for under 13’s are able to take place.
However, people who are not in those two groups and do not wear face coverings in shops could face up to £100 in line with the sanctions already applicable to public transport. I would hope that this enforcement stage is not needed for us in Bosworth, nor do I want us to feel the need to remonstrate with shop assistants if they are asking us to wear a face covering. I have written about my concerns that shop assistants have faced unacceptable levels of abuse about a range of issues: https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2020/07/luke-evans.html. We need to work together whether we are serving the public or whether we are a shopper so we can protect ourselves as best we can from any second wave of the virus as well as ensure that local economies and our High Streets can re-establish themselves.
Finally, It’s quite possible that there will be a second wave of coronavirus infections. I have heard multiple expert witnesses from Asia, in my role on the Health Select Committee, stating that one of the reasons countries in Asia have fared better is due to the culture adaption of virus reducing behaviour, learned the hard way through SARS, MERS and now Covid-19 – and mask wearing is an important part of that.
Thank you again for contacting me. I will continue to progress my work helping to coordinate the local response to the virus in Bosworth as well as scrutinising national policy for the rest of this parliamentary term and throughout the summer recess.