Portugal’s parliament has approved a bill banning face veils worn for “gender or religious” reasons in public, in a move seen as largely targeting the face coverings worn by some Muslim women.

The measure will outlaw covering one’s face in public places such as restaurants, sports stadiums, public transport or simply walking in the street

Wearing a face covering does not lead to a false sense of security or make people less cautious about hand hygiene, experts in the UK have claimed.