Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the best types of materials to be used when making a face mask at home to help combat the spread of COVID-19.

The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies considered the very limited evidence available on the use of face coverings and advised that there was some positive benefit for reducing the transmission of COVID-19. However, the main ways to reduce the spread of COVID-19 are social distancing and washing hands regularly.

The Government is now advising wearing a face covering in situations where it is difficult to manage social distancing and there may be close contact with people the wearer would not usually meet. Guidance on how to wear and make a cloth face covering was published on 11 May in an online only format on GOV.UK.

This guidance refers to the use of cotton fabric, which is consistent with the limited available scientific literature on the use of face coverings.