Wear One For Everyone

From 10 August the use of face coverings in certain indoor settings, such as shops or shopping centres, will be mandatory. You must also wear a face covering on public transport.

As well as ordinary day to day shopping for items such as clothes, food or electrical goods, a face covering is required in any other indoor place where goods or services are available to buy or rent. This includes, for example, a bookmakers, a food takeaway business or a dry cleaner.

When do I not have to wear a mask?

It is not mandatory to wear a face covering in a business that is able to maintain social distancing by using a system of ticketing or appointments. This might include, for example, a cinema, a hairdresser, or a solicitor. You do not have to wear a face covering in a bank or a business that operates like a bank.

There are circumstances where it is not possible to wear a face covering, for example, where you are eating or drinking in a restaurant, pub or café.

You do not have to wear a face covering in a gym or other place where the purpose of your attendance is aerobic exercise.

If you are wearing a face covering and remove it to eat, drink or exercise, you should replace it as soon as practicable afterwards and maintain social distancing of at least 2 metres if you are in an enclosed space.

You do not have to wear a face covering:

  • if you are under the age of 13
  • If you have a reasonable excuse not to

There are several reasonable excuses for not wearing a face covering. These are listed on the nidirect website: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-face-coverings

An employee of a store / shopping centre can request that you wear a face covering, and can ask you to leave the shop or shopping centre if you refuse to wear one and do not have a reasonable excuse not to.

If you have a condition which means you cannot wear a face covering you only need to say, if asked, that you cannot wear a face covering because you are ‘exempt’. It is important that we all respect one another and remember that the reasons for not wearing a face covering may not always be visible.

More information and guidance on the use of face coverings, including why they are needed; how to make one; and how they should be worn is available at: www.nidirect.gov.uk/face-coverings