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Matt Hancock pictured breaking face mask rules in ministerial car

© Licensed to London News Pictures. 19/10/2020. London, UK. Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock arrives at the Department for Health and Social Care. Photo credit: George Cracknell Wright/LNP - George Cracknell Wright/LNP
© Licensed to London News Pictures. 19/10/2020. London, UK. Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock arrives at the Department for Health and Social Care. Photo credit: George Cracknell Wright/LNP - George Cracknell Wright/LNP
Coronavirus Article Bar with counter
Coronavirus Article Bar with counter

Downing Street has been forced to remind ministers to wear face masks after the Health Secretary was caught travelling in a chauffeur-driven car without one.

Matt Hancock, who has been a keen advocate of face coverings, was spotted without a mask while travelling in a ministerial car to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) on Monday.

Number 10 has since reminded ministers that they must wear masks when travelling as passengers in cars, adding that masks were available in all ministerial cars.

Despite chauffeur-driven vehicles being exempt from rules that say passengers must wear masks in taxis and Ubers, the Prime Minister's spokesman said last month that Government cars were not classified as private hire vehicles.

Face covering rules in England
Face covering rules in England

He said the Prime Minister "and ministers will be wearing face coverings in line with the guidance", adding: "On the general point, we set out at the time that we were making face coverings available in all ministerial cars so that ministers would be able to wear them."

Meanwhile, Number 10 was forced to defend Boris Johnson's weekend visit to Chequers as they said no regional lockdown rules were broken.

The Prime Minister's visit to his country estate comes after the latest coronavirus rules were updated to say that people in Tier 2 – which includes Mr Johnson – are advised to reduce the number of journeys they make. They also say a person can also only mix with people in their own household bubble.

A Downing Street spokesman said: "The PM's trip to Chequers this weekend was in line with the guidance for the high local Covid alert levels. The guidance says you can still travel outside of high Covid alert levels, but you must only do this with people in your household or support bubble."

However, asked whether staff at Chequers counted as part of Mr Johnson's household, the spokesman said: "They are at work."

The Government's website says people in Tier 2 "can still go on holiday outside of high alert level areas, but you must only do this with people in your household or support bubble".