The Government has confirmed that face coverings will be required in shops from 4am on Tuesday 30th November.
Customers will be required to wear a face covering unless they are exempt for medical reasons. Colleagues are also required to wear a face covering in customer facing areas, such as the shop floor (also subject to exemptions).
As was the case when restrictions were in force earlier in the pandemic, retailers are required to communicate the rules on face coverings to customers using signage in store.
Retailers will have the right to refuse entry to customers who won't wear a face covering, but are not responsible for enforcement. Fixed penalty notices for non-compliance will be £200, doubling per additional offence. The regulations will expire on 20th December, subject to review.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “We are helping retailers to prepare for the change in face covering rules, but they are extremely concerned about abuse against their staff from customers who don’t want to wear a face covering in a shop. We will continue to urge stores to communicate the rules, but not to challenge those who refuse to abide by them.”
As part of the measures to contain the Omicron variant, the rules on self-isolation have also been amended. Anyone that has been identified as a close contact of someone who is suspected to have the Omicron variant must isolate for 10 days regardless of vaccination status.
We have a one page briefing for colleagues in England explaining the key points of the rules here, and posters on face coverings available here.
