When to wear or not a face covering ?

 What is a What a face covering

In the context of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, face coverings can safely cover the nose and mouth. You can buy reusable or disposable masks. You can also use scarves, turbans, religious clothing or handmade fabrics, but these must be firmly attached around the face.

Masks are not classified as PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), which are used in limited places to protect the wearer from hazards and dangers, such as masks or respirators used in medical and industrial settings.

On the contrary, masks are mainly used to protect others (not the wearer) from the spread of infection, because they cover the nose and mouth, which are the main virus transmission routes that cause coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

When to wear a mask

In some places, according to the law, you must wear a face mask unless you are exempt or have a reasonable excuse.

In England, you must wear a face mask in the following indoor settings (examples are given in parentheses):

• Public transportation (airplane, train, tram and bus)

• Taxis and private hire cars

• Transport hubs (airports, railway and tram stations and terminals, ports and terminals, bus and coach stations and terminals)

• Shops and supermarkets (places that provide goods or services for retail or rental)

• Shopping center (shopping center and indoor market)

• auction

• Places that provide hospitality (bars, pubs, restaurants, cafes), except places where you sit at a table to eat or drink (see exemptions)

• Post offices, banks, housing associations, high street lawyers and accountants, credit unions, short-term loan providers, savings clubs and money service businesses

• Real estate and leasing agency

• theater

• Places that provide personal care and beauty care (hair salon, barber, nail salon, massage center, tattoo and piercing room)

• Premises providing veterinary services

• Visitor attractions and entertainment venues (museums, art galleries, cinemas, theaters, concert halls, cultural heritage, aquariums, indoor zoos and visitor farms, bingo halls, amusement halls, adventure centers, indoor sports fields, playgrounds, theme parks , Casino, ice rink, bowling alley, indoor play area (including soft play area)

• Library and public reading room

• Religious place

• Ceremony service provider (fu ritual hall, crematorium and cemetery chapel)

• Community center, youth center and social club

• Exhibition hall and conference center

• Hotels and public areas of hotels

• Storage and distribution facilities

Before entering any setting, you should wear your face mask first, and unless you have a reasonable reason to remove it, you must wear it until you leave.

You should also wear a face mask in indoor places not listed here, where social distancing can be difficult and you will be in contact with people you don't usually know.

Facial coverings are required in NHS settings (including hospitals and primary or community care settings, such as GP surgery). It is also recommended that they wear it in nursing homes.

When you don't need to wear a mask

In England, where a face mask is needed, people may not be able to wear a face mask in some cases.

Please pay attention to and respect this situation. Some people are weak in wearing masks, while others may not see the cause.

This includes (but is not limited to):

• Children under 11 years old (for health and safety reasons, Public Health England does not recommend the use of face masks for children under 3 years old)

• People who cannot wear, wear or remove a mask due to a physical or mental illness or handicap or disability

• Putting on, putting on or removing the mask will seriously bother you

• If you are talking or offering help to someone who communicates on lip reading, clear voice or facial expressions

• Avoid causing harm or injury to yourself or others, or avoiding the risk of injury or injury ‒ including whether it will negatively affect your ability to exercise or participate in strenuous exercise

• Police officers and other emergency workers, as this may affect their ability to serve the public

In some cases, you are allowed to delete the face mask:

• If you are required to verify your identity in a bank, housing association or post office

• If requested by store staff or related employees for identification, evaluation of health advice (for example, by a pharmacist) or for age identification purposes, including when purchasing age-restricted products (for example, alcoholic beverages)

• If needed to receive treatment or services, such as facial treatments

• To take medicine

• If you preach or pray in a place of worship

• If you are married at the relevant location

• If you are 11 to 18 years old, attend a faith school and have classes in the chapel, this is part of your core curriculum

• If you are doing sports or an activity and it will negatively affect your athletic ability

• If you are an elite sports person, professional dancer or referee, during your work

• When sitting down to eat or drink in a pub, bar, restaurant or coffee shop. You must cover your face after eating and drinking