Covid-19: face mask rules more political than scientific, says UK expert

Study reveals cloth coverings reduce airflow but Covid-19 effectiveness remains unproven

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The wearing of cloth face masks by the public was becoming more about politics than science, one expert has argued, as a new study reveals potential benefits and problems of the coverings.

At present the UK government recommends the public wear face coverings when in crowded places where it is not always possible to maintain social distancing - a stance also taken by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - while other countries, including the Czech Republic, have made the wearing of masks in the community mandatory.