COVID 19: Face Coverings Now Legal Requirement for Customers in England
As of today, Friday 24th July 2020, it is a legal requirement for people in England to wear a face covering when inside a shop, supermarket, bank, transport hub or takeaway.
This new regulation is in addition to people needing to wear face coverings when using public transport, which came into force on 15th June 2020.
Anyone caught not wearing a face covering when they should be could be fined up to £100.
To view our range of face masks click here, or keep reading for more information.
Should everyone wear a mask?
Regulations state that children under 11 and those with certain disabilities or health conditions will not need to wear a mask.
This is due to potential respiratory or cognitive impairments they may have that make wearing a mask for extended periods more difficult.
Where do I not need to wear a mask?
Currently, face coverings are not mandatory outdoors or in the following indoor venues:
- Pubs
- Sit down restaurants
- Hairdressers
- Gyms
- Museums
- Libraries
- Cinemas/theatres
- Offices
However, while face coverings may not be required by law in some situations, it’s important to use your common sense. If social distancing cannot be kept with people outside of your immediate household (at work for example), you may choose to wear one.
Should we still socially distance?
Yes!
Loose-fitting face coverings are primarily used to prevent the wearer from spreading coronavirus to others and offer little protection for the wearer themselves. Nor are face coverings 100% effective at stopping contagious coronavirus particles from entering the atmosphere.
While if everyone wears face coverings the chance of catching Coronavirus does dramatically go down, we must still remain vigilant and follow good hand hygiene and social distancing practices where possible.
