The British government has been criticised for claiming that masks serve little purpose

Britain is under pressure to follow other countries in recommending the general use of face masks as a western consensus against their widespread adoption appeared to be crumbling.

Scientists have criticised the British government for still maintaining a stance that claims masks serve little purpose for the general public and should be reserved mainly for healthcare workers.

The United States has announced that it will review its official advice about masks in response to increasing evidence that people without symptoms can spread coronavirus, and countries in central Europe have started mandating their use.

“Telling the public it’s effective for healthcare workers only, but not for them, makes no sense,” Elaine Shuo Feng, from the University of Oxford, said. “The face masks don’t know who is