- Sadiq Khan asks major retailers to supply non-medical face coverings in all of their stores
- The British Independent Retailers Association also urges its members to provide non-medical face coverings for sale
- Non-medical face coverings will be essential as the lockdown begins to ease, particularly for those who have no option but to use public transport
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, is today urging retailers across the capital to work with him to stock non-medical face coverings in all of their stores to help in the battle against COVID-19.
Although Londoners should continue to stay at home as much as possible, the Government has finally updated its guidance on the use of face coverings, advising the public to wear them in enclosed public spaces where it is difficult to maintain a safe distance from others, such as in shops and on public transport.
Sadiq has made it clear that he wants everyone using London’s public transport to wear a non-medical face covering for the entirety of their journey.
Today the Mayor has written to London’s supermarkets and other retailers urging them to stock reusable, non-medical face coverings in all of their London stores at a price point that makes them accessible to all Londoners.
While he has said that suitable face coverings could be made by Londoners at home, there may be Londoners who will need or want to purchase a ready-made product instead.
The Mayor continues to work closely with businesses around the capital’s response to COVID-19, and today the British Independent Retailers Association is also urging its members and the wider retail sector to stock up on re-usable face coverings to keep the public safe as we transition out of lockdown.
Both the Mayor and the British Independent Retailers Association have reiterated that coverings for public sale should not be medical-grade PPE, as we must not risk supplies of this vital protective equipment being diverted away from health, care and other key workers on the frontline of the fight against COVID-19.
The change in Government guidance follows evidence from the WHO and around the world that while face coverings don’t necessarily stop a person from catching COVID-19 they can reduce the chances of an individual infecting others with COVID-19, particularly those who are asymptomatic and may not know be aware they have the virus.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Londoners have shown that they want to do everything they can to slow the spread of this virus, and the wearing of non-medical face coverings will be essential as the lockdown begins to end, particularly for those who have no option but to use public transport.
“I really appreciate all the work being done by retailers across the capital to keep Londoners safe during this crisis, including all the vital measures they have put in place to ensure we can all socially distance.
“I want to work with London’s retailers to now go even further – ensuring they can supply reusable, non-medical face coverings in an affordable and accessible way for all Londoners.”
CEO of The British Independent Retailers Association, Andrew Goodacre, said: “Independent retailers want to play their part in keeping customers safe and giving consumers confidence to return to the shops as and when they open.
“As they tend to sell PPE, we want to ensure local hardware stores ramp up supply to keep the public safe, to help people avoid needing to travel to the larger, more populated, out of town DIY stores to buy masks.
“We also want to help protect the NHS supply chain by ensuring the public are sold face coverings that are not those used by the NHS and other health service key workers.
“The GLA and retailers want shoppers to feel safe and follow the Government guidelines so that we can effectively transition out of lockdown and re-start the economy.”
Notes to editors
Latest Government guidance on face coverings: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/staying-safe-outside-your-home/staying-safe-outside-your-home.
The text of the letter from the Mayor to major supermarkets:
Non-medical face coverings: supply and distribution in London
Thank you for the hard work you and your colleagues are doing to ensure that Londoners have access to the food and essential supplies they need during the Coronavirus pandemic. I know your staff are working extremely hard on the frontline every day. I would also like to thank you for keeping your staff and customers safe. This work is of paramount importance to us all.
I would like to ask for your help with ensuring Londoners are able to access non-medical face coverings to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. You will be aware that the Government recently updated its guidance on the use of face coverings and is now advising the wearing of them in enclosed public spaces where it is difficult to maintain a safe distance from others.
Although Londoners should stay at home as much as possible, I am asking those who must use public transport for essential travel to wear a non-medical face covering for the entirety of their journey. Furthermore, I hope that Londoners will choose to wear face coverings when out doing their shopping, helping to keep you, your staff and their fellow customers safe.
Whilst we at City Hall are encouraging the use of homemade face coverings, I recognise that there will be many Londoners who will need or want to purchase a ready-made product instead. I am therefore urging you to stock supplies of reusable, non-medical face coverings in all of your London stores, at a price point that makes them accessible to all Londoners.
Coverings for the public sale should not be medical-grade PPE as we must not divert supplies of this vital protective equipment from health, care and other key workers in the frontline of the fight against COVID-19.
Given that I am asking the public to use face covering when on public transport, there will be a huge demand for them in the coming weeks. I understand that you have advised my officers of your current plans for stocking face coverings, for which I am grateful.
It would be helpful if you could provide information about the volume, types and price range of stock you are ordering and how soon you will be able to respond to demand. My office will follow up in the coming days.