Oxford University has confirmed it will be making face coverings mandatory in some areas.

A spokesperson from the University of Oxford said: "From the start of the new academic year face coverings will be required in some settings to accompany other measures, as part of the university’s commitment to keeping our community safe and well.

"We are still working with our health measures advisory group to accommodate exceptions for individuals and settings where they are not appropriate, and are also consulting with staff and unions on the details of how this this will operate."

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Face masks will be an additional safety measure alongside hand and surface sanitation, ventilation and use of Perspex screens.

The university added: “Our primary concern in all of our planning for the new term is the health and wellbeing of our staff, students and the local community.”

A University and College Union (UCU) representative at the university said she was concerned the university would use face coverings to try and cram too many people into spaces, however the university denied this and explained ‘the requirements for face coverings are not to enable greater density’.