In March 2025, the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP) advised that clade I mpox no longer meets the criteria for a high consequence infectious disease (HCID) and recommended derogation.

Mr Steele said: "The issue of FFP3 masks is probably the best example of the police service knowing it has a health and safety obligation and then ignoring it.

Professor Sir Chris Whitty was asked about the use of FFP3 masks and FRSM masks (fluid-resistant surgical masks) at the Covid-19 Inquiry on Thursday.

The evidence that FFP3 face masks were more protective for doctors than surgical masks is ‘weak’, the Covid inquiry has heard. Professor Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at the UK Health Security ...

Experts discuss whether you should wear a face-mask or not, with a new variant of Covid-19 on the rise. Experts are split, but all say to use common sense and where one when it is appropriate ...

While all masks can be effective when worn correctly, research indicates that N95 and FFP2/FFP3 coverings are the “gold standard” that offers the “best overall protection”.

Today's letters: Hospitals should keep tougher mask policies in place Wednesday, May 17: A reader takes issue with the decision by three area hospitals to loosen mask mandates. You can write to us ...

Police Scotland said it was necessary so officers and staff could wear protective FFP3 masks which require users to be clean-shaven.