Covid-19: Removal of Restrictions Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateBaroness Healy of Primrose Hill
Main Page: Baroness Healy of Primrose Hill (Labour - Life peer)Department Debates - View all Baroness Healy of Primrose Hill's debates with the Department of Health and Social Care
(4 years, 4 months ago)
Lords ChamberThe noble Lord, Lord Patel, asks an incredibly perceptive question. The ultimate decisions will be made by the CMO, who, as noble Lords know, has enormous experience in this exact area. Serology tests play an extremely important role in this by giving an indication of the number of antibodies there are, whether people have a degree of immunity and therefore a sense of how far the virus has spread through the community. However, we are aware of reports that there are recurrences of the virus in people who have emerged and recovered. That creates a great sense of concern around our serology tests.
Will making face masks compulsory form part of the exit-from-lockdown strategy? Other countries have implemented it.
The noble Baroness is entirely right that the use of PPE—certainly in the workplace and, more commonly, in other parts of our life—is likely to be part of our lives in the forthcoming period. However, to date, the British Government have been sceptical about the efficacy of face masks. We do not want to be in a position of misleading or providing false reassurance for the public when there is not sufficient scientific evidence for the relevance of face masks. However, should that evidence emerge and should the guidance change, we will of course follow the science and make the recommendation if it is helpful.