British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Thursday he would set out a "comprehensive plan" next week about steps to restart the economy, reopen school, and get people back to work — and face coverings will be "useful" in that phase.
Appearing at a news conference in London for the first time since he fell seriously ill with COVID-19 a month ago, Johnson said "we're past the peak and we are on the downward slope."
But in an apparent change in government policy, he said face coverings will be "useful" in the next stage of the crisis.
"I do think face coverings will be useful," he said. "What I think [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.”
The message came as a mixed signal, however, Sky News reported.
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced Tuesday cloth coverings should be used when social distancing was hard to maintain, but asked later if the same recommendation was likely to be adopted across the U.K., health secretary Matt Hancock said the government's position had not changed and there was "weak science" supporting the advice.
In Johnson's remarks, he noted, "We've come under what could have been a vast peak . . . and we can now see the sunlight and pasture ahead of us."
"And so it is vital that we do not now lose control and run slap into a second and even bigger mountain."
Johnson, 55, only returned to work Monday after recovering from a bout with the coronavirus that landed him in intensive care. His fiancee, Carrie Symonds, gave birth to their son Wednesday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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