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Three-layer face coverings will be mandatory on public transport in Wales from 27 July, the first minister has said.

At the daily Welsh government coronavirus briefing, Mark Drakeford said this would also be the case for taxis and other situations where 2m social distancing was not possible.

Last week, Health Minister Vaughan Gething recommended their use.

But he stopped short of making them mandatory.

Mr Drakeford said: "For the sake of simplicity and consistency, as well as being part of our plan to help reduce the risk of transmission while on public transport where it is not always possible to maintain a two metre physical distance, it will become mandatory for people to wear a three-layer face covering while travelling - this includes taxis."

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Face coverings are currently required on public transport in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The guidance comes after the World Health Organization updated its own advice. The British Medical Association in Wales had also called for the use of face coverings.

The Unite union also said face coverings should be mandatory on buses and trains.

However, Mr Drakeford said masks would not be mandatory for shoppers, but businesses may ask people to wear them.

He said the retail sector had made "huge efforts" to introduce measures to maintain physical distancing, including putting up one-way systems, limiting the number people who can enter a shop and putting up screens at checkouts. 

But, he added: "At this point in time, when the prevalence of coronavirus is low, we are not mandating the use of face coverings in other public places, but many people may choose to wear them - and there is nothing to stop that happening in Wales.

"Our advice may change if cases of coronavirus begin to increase."

The first minister said the Welsh government had made changes to regulations which recognise there are some occasions when it is not always possible to maintain a distance of 2m.

"These include maintaining hygiene standards and limiting close face-to-face interaction, wherever reasonable," he added.

Mr Drakeford also said 300,000 coronavirus tests have been carried out in Wales, with 17,000 of them positive.

He urged people to carry on following the "golden rules" such as washing hands frequently.

He said there had been a "real change in working patterns, with more people working from home", adding: "We need to see flexible working become a permanent feature of working life in Wales and the Welsh government will lead the way in this."