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Revealed: The number of Brits wearing face coverings during the COVID-19 crisis

People wear face masks to protect against the coronavirus as they walk in London, Wednesday, April 29, 2020. The Scottish Government is recommending the use of masks in shops and public transport, and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has called for people to wear facemasks, while the British government does not recommend the face covering.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Only a third of Brits are wearing face coverings when out in public, despite government advice to use them when outside of the home. (PA)

New figures show only a third of Brits are wearing face coverings, despite the government's guidance on using them to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Earlier this month, the government advised the public to wear face masks public spaces such as supermarkets and while using transport, after debating their effectiveness in protecting individuals from COVID-19

On Thursday, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published data that shows only three in 10 adults - or 29% - have worn a face covering outside of their homes in the past seven days.

The results also showed that for those that had worn a face covering, 67% of people wore masks while shopping.

A man wears a face mask to protect against the coronavirus as he shops at a fruit and vegetable shop in London, Wednesday, April 29, 2020. The Scottish Government is recommending the use of masks in shops and public transport, and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has called for people to wear facemasks, while the British government has refused to recommend the face covering.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Only three in 10 adults - or 29% - have worn a face covering outside of their homes in the past seven days. (AP)

Of people exercising outdoors and running errands, both activities reported 20% of people adhering to guidance.

Regardless of whether they had worn a face covering in the past, more than 4 in 10 adults - 41% - said they were either very or fairly likely to wear one in the next seven days.

The Lifestyle and Opinion survey also revealed the number of people who remained in self-isolation at home was decreasing.

Of adults in England, just over 1 in 10 (11%) said they had not left their home for any reason in the past seven days, a decrease from 14% last week.

For those aged 70 years and over, nearly 3 in 10 (27%) did not leave their home - a decline from 33% last week.

And for those with an underlying health condition, almost 2 in 10 (18%) did not leave, also down from 33% last week.

Meanwhile, around 1 in 5 adults (19%) said they had self-isolated due to coronavirus symptoms - a similar proportion to last week.

For those aged 70 years and over, 36% said they had self-isolated, while for those with an underlying health condition (all ages) it was 33%. Both represent a lower proportion than reported last week.

It comes as Boris Johnson on Thursday announced the further lifting of lockdown restrictions, which come into effect from 1 June.

From Monday, groups of 6 people will be allowed to meet in gardens and parks, while primary school children will return to classrooms.

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