From today (Friday, July 24) Government COVID-19 legislation changes mean it is mandatory to wear a face-covering in all shops and retail premises.

The measure will see all shops able to prevent entry to the premises to anyone not wearing a face covering.

In England, you must wear a face-covering by law in the following settings:

• Public transport

• Indoor transport hubs (airports, rail and tram stations and terminals, maritime ports and terminals, bus and coach stations and terminals)

• Shops and supermarkets (places which are open to the public and that wholly or mainly offer goods or services for retail sale or hire)

indoor shopping centres.

• Banks, building societies, and post offices (including credit unions, short-term loan providers, savings clubs and money service businesses)

You are expected to wear a face-covering immediately before entering any of these settings and must keep it on until you leave.

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.

Face coverings are also needed in NHS settings, including hospitals and primary or community care settings, such as GP surgeries. They are advised to be worn in care homes. Individual settings may have their own policies and require you to take other measures.

You do not have to wear face coverings in hospitality settings, including restaurants with table service, bars and pubs.

You do not need to wear a face-covering if you have a legitimate reason not to. This includes (but is not limited to):

• Young children under the age of 11 (Public Health England do not recommended face coverings for children under the age of 3 for health and safety reasons)

• 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 injury, or to escape a risk of harm, and you do not have a face-covering with you:

• To eat or drink, but only if you need to
• To take medication
• If a police officer or other official requests you remove your face covering
• There are also scenarios when you are permitted to remove a face covering when asked:
• If asked to do so by shop staff for the purpose of age identification
• If speaking with people who rely on lip reading, facial expressions and clear sound. Some may ask you, either verbally or in writing, to remove a covering to help with communication.