FACEMASKS have become compulsory in shops, banks & takeaways in England from today – and you face a £100 fine for not wearing one.
The Government yesterday revealed a list of all the places people will be expected to cover up to stay safe.
Facemasks become compulsory in shops, banks & takeaways from TODAY
They were already mandatory on public transport, and the advice follows the law changing in Scotland earlier this month too.
Ministers say when people cannot socially distance and stay 2m apart from another person, they should consider other things to stay safe – like wearing a mask.
The face coverings do not have to be medical grade – they can be as simple as a scarf or a bandanna that ties behind the head to give a snug fit.
Face coverings must be worn in:
- Retail shops
- Cafes where there is no table service
- Takeaway venues
- Banks and building societies
- Supermarkets
- Charity shops
- Post offices
- Shopping centres
- Train stations and airports
Last week the Government sparked mass confusion over whether people would have to wear them in sandwich shops.
Matt Hancock had said people would have to, but the Cabinet Office said they did not need to.
Today minister Brandon Lewis confirmed that if someone was going into any kind of shop, they would need to mask up.
However, if they were sitting down in a cafe, they could take it off to eat or drink.
Yet the Government has insisted that shop owners won’t have to enforce the law themselves.
The police will only be called as a last resort, or if things turn violent.
Devon and Cornwall’s police and crime commissioner said cops were far too busy to enforce the Covid-19 fighting law unless there was violence or disorder involved.
Deaths among shop workers were staggeringly 75 per cent higher for men and 60 per cent higher for women than among the general public, health secretary Mr Hancock previously revealed.
However, there are several exemptions from having to wear a mask:
- A child under the age of 11
- An employee of the transport operator, when they are acting in the course of their employment
- Any other person providing services to the transport operator, under arrangements made with the transport operator, who is providing those services
- A constable or police community support officer acting in the course of their duty
- An emergency responder such as a paramedic or fire officer acting in the course of their duty
- An official, for example, a border force officer, acting in the course of their duties
- If you are allocated a cabin, berth or other similar accommodation, at any time when you are in that accommodation, either alone, or only with members of your own household or a linked household
- If you are on board public transport but remain in your private vehicle, for example on a car ferry
You can create your own comfortable face covering at home.
These face coverings should cover the mouth and nose while allowing the wearer to breathe comfortably.
Some experts claims that if all Brits wore faces masks then the UK could “return to normal” because they slash the risk of catching coronavirus.
In England, the rules are to try and stay at least two meters apart, although one meter is now acceptable if the former isn’t possible.
