England
Who needs to wear one?
From Tuesday 30 November, customers are expected to wear a face covering before entering any of these settings and must keep it on until you leave unless there is a reasonable excuse for removing it.
Do staff need to wear a face covering?
Although not a legal requirement, businesses can require or encourage their workers to wear a face covering.
Who is exempt?
- Children under the age of 11
- People who cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability
- Police officers and other emergency workers, given that this may interfere with their ability to serve the public
- Where putting on, wearing or removing a face covering will cause you severe distress
- If you are speaking to or providing assistance to someone who relies on lip reading, clear sound or facial expressions to communicate
What should I do if a customer isn’t wearing one?
Premises where face coverings are required are advised to take reasonable steps to promote compliance with the law. The government has made it clear that it is not the responsibility of shop staff to enforce the regulation.
Northern Ireland
Who needs to wear one?
On 24 May 2021, it became mandatory to wear a face covering when going into or inside the public areas of any enclosed publically-accessible premises. This includes when shopping for goods and services. If you are a customer of a food takeaway business, or a shop that sells food or drink for immediate consumption, and it provides seating for its customers, you may remove your face covering while eating and drinking at those seats.
Do staff need to wear a face covering?
People who work in the public areas of any enclosed publically-accessible premises must also wear a face covering, unless they are separated from members of the public by a partition. This includes, for example, someone stacking shelves in a supermarket or a waiter in a café.
Who is exempt?
- if you are under the age of 13
- if you are a member of staff or employee of the shop, shopping centre or bank and are behind a partition, or if you are in an area not open to the public and can maintain a two metre social distance from your colleagues
What should I do if a customer isn’t wearing one?
Retailers and staff are not required to police or enforce the wearing of face coverings and it will be the individual responsibility of the shoppers to comply with this law.
Scotland
Who needs to wear one?
By law, everyone aged 12 and over must wear a face covering, unless exempt, in most indoor public spaces, including shops.
Do staff need to wear a face covering?
Everyone, including visitors and volunteers, must wear a face covering in indoor communal areas and shared spaces at work. However, in the following circumstances you can choose to remove your face covering:
- when you can stay one metre away from other people, or
- when there are screens or partitions in place, or
- if you are exempt from wearing one
Who is exempt?
You do not have to wear a face covering if:
- you’re under 12 years old
- wearing one makes you extremely anxious or distressed
- you’ve got a physical or mental illness or disability which means you can’t wear one
What should I do if a customer isn’t wearing one?
Where face coverings are required, persons responsible for relevant premises should take reasonable steps to promote compliance with the law.
What’s the penalty for a customer not wearing a face covering?
If necessary, the police have enforcement powers including issuing fines of £60 if members of the public do not comply with this law without a reasonable excuse.
Wales
Who needs to wear one?
Face coverings will be required in all indoor public places, for both customers and staff working in those indoor public areas. This includes a very wide range of locations, such as shops and shopping centres.
Do staff need to wear a face covering?
Yes. Employers will also be required to mandate the use of face coverings in other indoor workplaces where social distancing cannot be maintained, unless there are strong reasons not to.
Staff working behind plastic screens which give sufficient protection would generally not be considered to be in public areas – the purpose of the screen being to separate them from the public. However, if there is more than one member of staff working behind the screen and social distancing cannot be maintained, your employer would be expected to require the use of face coverings unless there was a good reason not to.
Who is exempt?
The requirement will apply to everyone aged 11 and over – including customers and staff. However, you may have a reasonable excuse not to wear a face covering if (for example):
- You are not able to put on or to wear a face covering because of a physical or mental illness, or because of a disability or impairment;
- You are accompanying somebody who relies on lip reading where they need to communicate; or
- You are escaping from a threat or danger and don’t have a face covering.
What should I do if a customer isn’t wearing one?
Managers of premises are required to provide information about the legal requirement to those intending to enter. This information may be provided in a variety of ways. Websites should carry specific information on wearing face coverings as part of the conditions of entry and may provide links to other useful websites – for example, showing how to make a face covering and how to wear a face covering properly. Notices advising customers of their legal obligation to wear face coverings should be displayed in a prominent place (in both English and Welsh) whenever feasible.
Managers of premises are also required by Welsh law to take all reasonable measures to minimise the risk of exposure to coronavirus on their premises. They have a part to play in keeping people safe.
When asked, customers will be given an opportunity to wear a face covering or explain why they have a reasonable excuse not to wear a face covering. If they are not complying with the law customers may be asked to leave the premises.
What’s the penalty for a customer not wearing a face covering?
Police or environmental health officers can also issue a fixed penalty for breaches of these requirements. A first offence is punishable by a penalty of £60 (which doubles for each subsequent offence up to a maximum of £1,920). Repeat offenders could also be prosecuted in court where there is no limit to the fine that may be issued.
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