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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Abbie Wightwick

Mark Drakeford says Wales' face mask law will be reviewed soon - but suggests he'll keep wearing one

The law on wearing face masks in Wales will be reviewed early next month.

But First Minister Mark Drakeford said he would consider continuing to wear one, even if the advice was that the situation did not require masks by law.

In England the law is changing from next week when wearing a mask will only be advised. People in Wales will have to wait longer.

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Asked on Friday's Welsh Government coronavirus briefing when the law on masks will be lifted in Wales, the First Minister said it would be looked at next month.

He predicted masks could, however, continue to be a feature of life.

Asked when the law on masks would be changed Mr Drakeford said: "We will review it on the 10th of February, because it's part of those alert level zero measures.

"The question we asked for advice on is, are those measures still necessary and proportionate given the state of the virus in Wales?

"And if the advice is things are so good you don't need to have them in place then we would respond to that advice.

"If the advice is they still form an important part of the defence that is what we'll do.

"I think there will be many people who, on an advisory basis, finding themselves in places where there are lots of other people and where we know the risks are greater because you're indoors and because our ventilation may not be as good as it otherwise would be, I think there will be lots of people who will choose to go on wearing masks because it gives them confidence that they're keeping themselves safe. I would certainly consider that myself."

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