Mandatory mask wearing in shops across England will come into force today (November 30.) It brings England into line with the rest of the UK where mask wearing in stores is still required.
The move follows the discovery of the new Omicron strain of COVID last week. The UK has 11 confirmed cases of the variant, and more are expected to be found in the coming days.
Responding to the announcement of new face covering rules, Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium (BRC) said: “Throughout the pandemic, retailers have made the safety of staff and customers their top priority. Over the last 20 months, retailers have done what is necessary to keep the public safe and will continue to implement all necessary measures now and in the future.
“Retailers will be communicating the new rules on face coverings in England through in-store signage and other channels. However, it is vital that we do not place hardworking retail staff in harm’s way, and enforcement of face coverings must remain the duty of the authorities. Furthermore, we all have an individual responsibility to put on a face covering before entering a shop.”
She added: “Retailers have worked incredibly hard to get shops and warehouses prepared for Christmas despite a variety of challenges. While there may be small changes in the way we shop, we ask people to be considerate and we remain confident that everyone can get what they need for a fun and festive Christmas this year.”
For more information, visit the Government website HERE.
