Face coverings became mandatory in shops, supermarkets, shopping centres and enclosed transport hubs on Friday 24 July as the government takes further steps to help curb the spread of the virus.
- Face coverings will be mandatory in additional enclosed public spaces from Friday 24 July – including shops, supermarkets, shopping centres and transport hubs
- New measure an important step in lifting lockdown, as the public are encouraged to play their part
- Venues such as restaurants, cafe’s, pubs and gyms will be exempt
- It will be compulsory to wear a face covering when buying food and drink to take away from cafes and shops.
- If you are in a premises where you are able to sit down and consume food or drink that you have bought, then you can remove your face covering in order to eat and drink on-site.
More Face Mask News & Information
- When to wear a face covering – government advice
- How to wear a face covering – government advice
- Face Coverings & Transport – When You Need To wear Them
- When you don’t need to wear a face covering
- Scams – Spotting fake PPE and masks
- Tips for wearing face coverings with glasses
Making Your Own Face Coverings
- Government Advice on making and wearing Face Coverings
- BBC advice on making and wearing face coverings
- Guide to the best materials to use
- Make your own clear panel lip-reading mask
Buy a Face Mask
Lip Reading Masks:
- There are special masks available for people who rely upon lip reading. They have a clear panel in them – find out where to buy them or how to make one yourself here.
Face Mask Exemptions
Note, some people are exempt from wearing face coverings due to health conditions or age or equality reasons. You do not need to wear a face covering if you have a reasonable reason not to. These include:
- not being able to put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability
- if putting on, wearing or removing a face covering will cause you severe distress
- if you are travelling with or providing assistance to someone who relies on lip reading to communicate
- to avoid harm or injury, or the risk of harm or injury, to yourself or others
- to take medication
There’s also an excellent guide to Face Masks & Face Mask Exemptions from Disability Horizons the online disability magazine.
If you can’t wear a face covering – buy a card or print your own
The people that make and supply the sunflower lanyards, that help explain hidden disabilities, have now come up with face covering exemption cards (pictured below).
If a medical condition, disability or other issue means you can’t wear a face covering or mask,
you can send off for a card that explains it and fits in a standard lanyard, for just 55p. Buy an exemption card online
There are a number easy-to-print cards available that help communicate to others why you are not wearing a mask:
– Easy Read information, including cards https://www.keepsafe.org.uk/posters
– Arriva buses – easy to print options that you can print off at home.
– You can also obtain a card if you email Arriva on customerservice@arriva.co.uk or call them on 0344800 4411
– First Buses also have some face covering exemption cards that you can print, or put onto your phone to show a driver – view cards