Coronavirus: New face covering rules come into force in England - BBC News

Face coverings are now compulsory for customers in shops in England, after new coronavirus rules came into force within 12 hours of the government issuing guidance on the change.

Coverings are mandatory in enclosed public spaces such as supermarkets, indoor shopping centres, transport hubs, banks and takeaways.

Police can hand out fines of up to £100 to those who do not comply.

But some retailers have insisted they will not enforce the rule.

Sainsbury's and Costa Coffee said their staff would not challenge customers who enter their stores without masks, while Asda said enforcement was the "responsibility of the relevant authorities".

But Waitrose will have staff at the entrance reminding customers of the rule, and Tesco will be selling face coverings at shop entrances.

Greggs and McDonalds said takeaway customers needed to wear masks.

Guidance issued by the government on Thursday for England states that staff in premises where face coverings are required are encouraged to take steps "to promote compliance with the law" and can refuse entry to people who do not have a valid exemption under the rules.

However, the government said it was the responsibility of individuals to wear a covering, and Health Secretary Matt Hancock urged the public to "play their part" by following the new guidance.

"As we move into the next stage of easing restrictions for the public, it is vital we continue to shop safely so that we can make the most of our fantastic retail industry this summer," he said.

Police will be able to "use force" to remove customers from shops if they do not wear face coverings, as well as prevent them from entering, according to the College of Policing.

But forces have said they will only be enforcing the rules, including issuing £100 fines, as a last resort - and officers will not be patrolling premises.

Health Minister Helen Whately said the government was confident "the vast majority of people" would comply with the regulations.

There are exemptions to the new rules for children under 11, those with disabilities or certain health conditions, such as respiratory or cognitive impairments that make it difficult for them to wear a face covering.

Ms Whately said people could print out a card from the government's website to show they were exempt if they wished, but stressed people would not be expected to carry proof of an exemption.

Public Health England has warned parents not to buy coverings for babies and young children because of the risk of choking or suffocation.

Masks will not be mandatory in indoor venues that have other safety measures in place, including:

Eat-in restaurants
Pubs
Hairdressers and salons
Gyms and leisure centres
Cinemas, concert halls and theatres
Visitor attractions such as museums

Can police make me cover my face?

The Police Federation, which represents front-line officers, said officers could not spend their time patrolling thousands upon thousands of outlets.

Shop staff and security guards can already detain shoplifters while waiting for the police to arrive and police leaders hope shop managers will refuse non-mask wearers entry - rather than turning to the police to solve the problem.

Met Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick has said that police in London would only enforce the wearing of coverings in shops "as a last resort" - if people not wearing a covering refused to leave a shop or became "aggressive".