ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is encouraging customers to be respectful of individual store policies around face coverings as England moves away from Plan B restrictions.
From today (January 27th), the Government is moving to plan A, which removes the legal requirement to wear a face covering in shops and other indoor spaces. However, the Government advice remains that face coverings are advised in these places to help stop the spread of Covid-19.
The full list of changes as a result of the move to Plan A is as follows:
- Venues and events will no longer be required by law to use the NHS COVID Pass. The NHS COVID Pass can still be used on a voluntary basis as was previously the case in Plan A
- Face coverings are no longer required by law in any setting. Public health guidance will remain in place, suggesting individuals should continue to wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces, where you may come into contact with people you do not normally meet
- The Department for Education will remove national guidance on the use of face coverings in communal areas, with local directors of public health able to recommend the use of face coverings in education settings across their area only where the department and public health experts judge the measure to be proportionate due to specific health concerns. This is a temporary measure and directors of public health continue to advise individual settings experiencing outbreaks
- Any local introduction of face coverings must be subject to routine review and removed at the earliest opportunity
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “It is essential that retailers clearly communicate their policy to customers around face coverings. While no longer a legal requirement, many stores will still have a policy of asking customers to wear face coverings whilst shopping, and that should be respected. Covid-related abuse, especially around the wearing of face coverings, has been a significant problem for retailers and colleagues throughout the pandemic, so we ask all customers to be respectful of the policies in place in their local shops.”
Face coverings remain mandatory in shops in Wales and Scotland. ACS has produced materials for retailers to display in stores to communicate their policy on face coverings, which can be downloaded here: https://www.acs.org.uk/covid-19/face-coverings
