MORE people need to wear face coverings in public as non-essential shops and services start to reopen for the first time since March, Oxfordshire County Council urged residents.

Non-surgical coverings were already made compulsory on public transport by the government from Monday and passengers breaking the rules will be asked to wear one, or face being refused onboard or fined £100.

However, local authorities reiterated that a face covering is not the same as medical-grade PPE face masks.

These will continue to be reserved for those working in a high-risk environment, such as health and social care.

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The government says masks can be homemade, such as a scarf or bandana.

While face coverings are not mandatory, Oxfordshire County Council recommended that residents wear one when in public places such as supermarkets and other stores to help reduce the risk of spreading the virus.

The local authority' s director for public health Ansaf Azhar reiterated the importance of staying alert.

He said: "As we are now into the warm summer months, it is great that we have been able to ease some aspects of lockdown.

"However, it is vital we do not become complacent about the risk, and continue to abide by government guidance if we are to keep infection rates down."