Government has spent a lot of money to buy 50 million face masks which are not up to NHS standards for use in a high risk environment. If they are otherwise fit for use, the Government could give them away for free to people on low income for general use.
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It would be a smart move to give these masks, and any other that NHS and social care workers can’t use away to vulnerable people or those on low income, who cannot afford to buy/use fresh masks all the time.