Coming up any minute! Independent Sage answer all your questions about face masks. Join us here or on YouTube - and tweet us your questions!

Professor West: Policy on face masks varies enormously from country to country. Do the benefits outweigh potential harms? The science is quite equivocal.

Randomised controlled trials have been equivocal. Observational studies suggest a benefit. New evidence has come in recent weeks though. Two studies mentioned in our report.

One study on a US Navy carrier simulates what you see in a lot of enclosed spaces. It shows a benefit for the wearer.

The harms are potentially there - not just as false reassurance, but if we take our eye off the ball with other measures to protect the population.

Public transport and shops are identified as the high risk places. But should this be extended to universities and other indoor settings like sports facilities?

The WHO guidance recommends that masks are made of 3 layers of different types of materials. Aeresols hang about in the air for hours so we need to identify masks that can filter out those tiny droplets.

Key messages need to go out in a variety of languages and through a variety of formats. Financial hardship is also an important issue. Face coverings are given out free by other countries. We need to make sure that everyone is provided with these.

There are exemptions. Some people with disabilities may not be able to wear face coverings. These people need to be accepted. People who depend on lip reading need to ask people to remove face coverings.

The UK doesn't have a culture or universal habit of wearing face coverings. Legislation is not always the best way. Public information campaigns are therefore vital.

We're wearing face coverings out of respect and care for the rest of the community. We should proceed with a light touch rather than heavy-handed fines.

We need to tailor messages to those not adhering and use role models that those people look up to.

Employers have a duty to make things safe for their employees before they require them to come into work.

With my family we meet in the garden and we don't wear face masks but we keep two metres apart. Face masks are only one precaution. We need to wash hands etc. Stay outdoors as much as possible.

Question. Should the public be allowed into courts? There are confined spaces, mixes of people, belongings touched when bags are searched. Should masks be worn? Judges find it harder to hear people wearing face coverings.

We need to do risk assessments of all these situations and my view is that face masks should be worn. Everyone should be carrying hand sanitiser and using it every time they touch something and particularly before touching their face.

The government haven't said enough about other areas and occupations such as taxi drivers and chauffeurs.

We advocate driving down infections as far as possible. If face masks are used as a way to downplay other measures then it will be entirely counter-productive.

We need other legislation for healthy and safe work places. Bring in Trade Unions and Health and Safety representatives if you have concerns.

The. government needs to give the best possible advice on types of masks and clear instructions for how long they can be worn for and whether they can or should be washed.

We can't just tell people to wear masks without providing a great deal of information. How tight should they be? Can they be washed? the police are enforcing this through fines and we believe that is absolutely wrong without a clear public information campaign.

We know that black and ethnic minority people in this country are disproportionately affected by fines from the police.

Now we're easing the lockdown. We were late in bringing in major social distancing measures and now we need to minimise further infections.

Masks were made compulsory in Italy. There are no fines for not wearing them. Mandation sends out a clear message that this is important and it doesn't need to be accompanied by enforcement or repression or fines.

The UK has searched for the silver bullet rather than looking for cumulative advantage. One example was stopping mass gatherings. Every little advantage adds up. Face coverings have a valuable role in keeping things under control.

Improved ventilation helped to reduce tuberculosis. We should be looking at our building regulations. We're building some of the smallest domestic spaces in Western Europe for people to live in.

The primary approach with masks should not be repressive. The college of police training also advises encouragement and engagement. You don't start off by being punitive. You start by understanding and helping people.

Face masks should be seen as a measure to keep people safe, not as a way of penalising people. This shouldn't require a criminal justice response.

Schools need the tools to do good risk assessment and risk management. Face masks may be an option but this may differ between schools depending on space, ventilation etc.

I don't believe schools should be reopened until we've reached zero Covid.

Have the government carried out any impact assessment on what rolling out this measure means?

It's a wrap. Thank you so much for joining us and please join us again for our weekly briefing on Friday.