British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing backlash from within his own Conservative Party after his government made it mandatory for people to wear face masks while visiting shops in England.
Mr Hancock defended the move, saying the government had tried to balance public health needs with the"ancient liberties of a gentleman to go shopping".
Britain, which has some of the world’s highest numbers of coronavirus cases and deaths, had, until now, taken a fairly relaxed attitude to mask-wearing. Many scientists have said the British government’s slow reactions throughout the pandemic have cost thousands of lives.
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