ALL hospital visitors and outpatients will be required to wear face coverings and all hospital staff must wear surgical masks in England from June 15, Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced today.

At the daily Downing Street press conference, he said that wearing masks and visors “at all times” in hospitals was “critically important” to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

The rule will apply to all staff working in hospitals, even if they are not doing life-saving work on the front line, and in all areas “except those areas designated as Covid-secure workplaces.”

Mr Hancock said: “One of the things that we’ve learnt is that those in hospital, those who are working in hospital, are more likely to catch coronavirus whether they work in a clinical setting or not.”

Yesterday he had announced that all passengers on public transport – except babies, toddlers, and primary school children travelling alone – would be required to wear face coverings, or be fined, from June 15.

During today’s press conference, Mr Hancock also urged people not to take part in mass anti-police-brutality demonstrations during the weekend over the death of George Floyd in the US.

Mr Hancock said: “Like so many I am appalled by the death of George Floyd and I understand why people are deeply upset but we are still facing a health crisis and coronavirus remains a real threat.

“The reason that it is vital that people stick to the rules this weekend is to protect themselves and their family from this horrific disease.

“So please for the safety of your loved ones do not attend large gatherings including demonstrations of more than six people.”

The official UK coronavirus death toll of 357 took the total beyond 40,000, to 40,261, with the number of positive coronavirus tests up by 1,650 to take the total of known infections to 283,311.

Mr Hancock said the severe death toll would make him “redouble” his determination to deal with coronavirus and get the R-rate below one.