London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Jun 20, 2025

Rishi Sunak criticised for wearing valved mask that's 'worse than nothing'

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has been criticised for wearing a vented face mask that one doctor said was worse than no covering at all.
A picture of Mr Sunak posted to his Twitter account on Wednesday showed him leaving a Pret a Manger while wearing a grey mask fitted with a valve.

Valved masks filter incoming air but do not filter it on the way out, and scientists have repeatedly urged people against wearing them for fear they could spread germs further.

Oxford University medical professor Trisha Greenhalgh responded that they ‘make the exhalation into a jet’.

She tweeted: ‘Not that one Rishi. One without a valve. Way to go,’ and later corrected another user who suggested Mr Sunak’s mask was better than nothing.

Former Tory MP and London mayoral candidate Rory Stewart added: ‘A little guidance maybe [sic] needed on mask types – the key point of masks is to protect OTHERS from your own breathing’.

Earlier this month, Dr Bharat Pankhania, a senior clinical lecturer at the University of Exeter Medical School, told LBC that valves create a ‘high velocity flow of air from the mouth out through the valve which could create a plume of infection’.

In May a study by doctors at the University of Palermo in Italy warned valved masks ‘may be an additional and under-recognised transmission source’ as they ‘pose major concerns about outward protection’.

The European Centres for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) have issued statements against the use of valved masks in community settings while the US Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) have recommended against using them in healthcare settings where a sterile environment is required.

Some cities and counties in the US have banned their use outright.

The government was previously criticised for appearing to promote the same type of mask after one was shown in an official clip posted to Downing Street’s Twitter account.

The tweet said face coverings were meant to ‘protect others’ and followed Tuesday’s announcement that the use of masks will become compulsory in shops in England from July 24.

Despite the concerns, Mr Sunak was pictured wearing the same mask for a second day, while talking to staff at a job centre in Barking, east London.

The government has also been criticised for confusing messaging around the new announcement.

While some ministers have suggested masks would only be compulsory in shops, the Cabinet Office’s Covid-19 guidance was updated on Tuesday to say face coverings are ‘strongly encouraged’ in other ‘enclosed public spaces where social distancing may be difficult and where you come into contact with people you do not normally meet.’

Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove was pictured leaving a pret on the same day without a mask on.

Asked about the incident on Sky News, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: ‘You do need to wear a face mask in Pret because Pret is a shop.’

‘If there’s table service, it is not necessary to have a mask. But in any shop, you do need a mask.

‘So, if you’re going up to the counter in Pret to buy takeaway that is a shop… but if you go to your local pub you can’t go to the bar.’

Responding to concerns earlier that day, Mr Sunak said: ‘I think that people are intelligent. I think that people can understand this is a novel virus with specific challenges. There are appropriate moments of course when a direct message to say to people “don’t do X” or “do do Y” is appropriate.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
UK Home Secretary Apologizes Over Child Grooming Failures
Trump Organization Launches 5G Mobile Network and Golden Handset
Towcester Hosts 2025 English Greyhound Derby Amid Industry Scrutiny
Gary Oldman and David Beckham Knighted in King's Birthday Honours
Over 30,000 Lightning Strikes Recorded Across UK During Overnight Storms
Princess of Wales Returns to Public Duties at Trooping the Colour
Red Arrows Use Sustainable Fuel in Historic Trooping the Colour Flypast
Former Welsh First Minister Addresses Unionist Concerns Over Irish Language
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
France Bars Israeli Arms Companies from Paris Defense Expo
King Charles Leads Tribute to Air India Crash Victims at Trooping the Colour
Jack Pitchford Embarks on 200-Mile Walk to Support Stem Cell Charity
Surrey Hikers Take on Challenge of Climbing 11 Peaks in a Single Day
UK Deploys RAF Jets to Middle East Amid Israel-Iran Tensions
Two Skydivers Die in 'Tragic Accident' at Devon Airfield
Sainsbury's and Morrisons Accused of Displaying Prohibited Tobacco Ads
UK Launches National Inquiry into Grooming Gangs
Families Seek Closure After Air India Crash
Gold Emerges as Global Safe Haven Amid Uncertainty
Trump Reports $57 Million Earnings from Crypto Venture
Trump's Military Parade Sparks Concerns Over Authoritarianism
Nationwide 'No Kings' Protests Challenge Trump's Leadership
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
Germany Holds First Veterans Celebration Since WWII
U.S. Health Secretary Dismisses CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee
Minnesota Lawmaker Melissa Hortman and Husband Killed in Targeted Attack; Senator John Hoffman and Wife Injured
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
×