What is the law in England regarding face coverings?

Good Question! Although the UK Government has issued guidelines and set laws around the mandatory use of face coverings in public, there still seems to be a lot of confusion about when and where you must wear a face covering by law. For example, there is no universal face coverings guidance for workplaces because of the variety of work environments in different industries. Meanwhile, there are exemptions even in mandated areas for health, age or equality reasons.

Here is the latest advice on the UK.Gov website. In England, as of 8 August 2020, face coverings must be –  by law – worn in enclosed public spaces. This includes shops, supermarkets, shopping centres, banks, building societies and post offices. It extends to railway and bus stations and airports. It also includes museums, galleries and cinemas and places of worship.

Measures can be taken if people do not comply with this law. Transport operators can deny service or direct someone to wear a face covering. If necessary, the police and Transport for London authorised officers can issue fines of £100 (halving to £50 if paid within 14 days).

Shops and supermarkets will be expected to encourage compliance with the law (as they would do more generally) and can refuse entry. In both cases, if necessary, the police have the powers to enforce these measures, including through issuing a fine of £100 (halving to £50 if paid within 14 days). The rules will be enforced by the police, not shop workers, and only ”as a last resort”.

There are exemptions. In settings where face coverings are mandated in England, there are some circumstances, whereby people are not expected to wear face coverings in these settings where it would be ”impractical” to do so. That includes restaurants, pubs, dentists, opticians and gyms. They are also optional in hairdressers and beauty salons.

Overall, you are also strongly encouraged to wear a face covering in other enclosed public spaces where social distancing may be difficult and where you come into contact with people you do not normally meet.