Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Cochrane Review Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses, published on 20 November 2020, which found that mask use in the community was unlikely to be effective in containing the transmission of any respiratory infection, including COVID-19, whether they will review their guidance on face coverings.

In November 2021, the UK Health Security Agency published The effectiveness of face coverings to reduce transmission of COVID-19 in community settings: A rapid review (update 2) to identify and examine the latest available evidence on the effectiveness of face coverings to reduce transmission of COVID-19 in the community. The review includes 25 studies, two randomised controlled trials and 23 observational studies undertaken to 14 September 2021. The evidence suggests that face coverings reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the community through source control, wearer protection, and universal masking. A copy of the review is attached.

As and when any new evidence on the effectiveness of face coverings emerges, we will consider whether any guidance should be amended.