Minister plans to make face masks compulsory

Tuesday 22 September 2020

Wearing face masks will be made compulsory in indoor public spaces, if States Members approve plans being drawn up by the Health Minister.

Responding to a question in today’s States Assembly as to whether he would push to change the law to make mask wearing mandatory, Deputy Richard Renouf confirmed: “That is in our legislative programme, to introduce a law that would provide for mask-wearing in indoor public places and that will come before the Assembly to make that decision.”

He further explained: “To make it compulsory, I’m advised we need to introduce legislation that is being drafted. I have had talks around it, but it will need to be lodged, I hope at the beginning of October.” 

This would then be followed by a six week lodging period, although he noted that it could be less if “it is the case that the Assembly wish to take the debate within a shorter time.”

Pictured: Health Minister Richard Renouf said he hoped the proposals could be lodged in October. 

Deputy Renouf also cautioned that mask wearing in public spaces such as shops “remains strongly recommended, and we are to engage in discussions with retailers particularly about how they might encourage the wearing of masks in outlets.”

He went on to emphasise that, despite the low levels of the virus on the island, covid is still a threat, noting: “I believe we are very relaxed in Jersey – anyone who has been to the UK or other countries this summer will have seen how much more the wearing of masks is prevalent there. 

“There’s a much greater sense of what we face whereas perhaps in Jersey we’ve become too relaxed about this, and we don’t realise covid is still with us and poses a threat.”