Coronavirus - check if you need to wear a mask or face covering

The government have removed the national laws about wearing masks or face coverings.

You might still be asked to wear a mask or face covering in some places, for example:

• on public transport

• in hospitals and GP surgeries
• in shops

It’s worth taking a mask or face covering with you when you go out in case you need it. Look for signs that say where you should wear it.

You might not need wear a mask or face covering, for example if:

• you’re under 11 years old
• wearing one makes you extremely anxious
• you’ve got an illness or disability which means you can’t wear one

If you’re planning to be indoors somewhere, contact the place or look at their website to check if you’ll need to wear a mask or face covering.

If you’re disabled and can’t wear a mask or face covering in a shop, you should ask them to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ for you. You can find out what reasonable adjustments shops should make.

You can check who doesn’t have to wear a face mask on GOV.UK.

Check what happens if you don’t wear a mask or face covering

You might be asked to leave places like shops or hospitals if you don’t wear a mask or face covering when you should.

Wearing a mask or face covering at work

If your employer tells you to wear a mask or face covering at work, you normally have to.

Tell your employer if you can’t wear a mask or face covering, for example if:

• wearing one makes you extremely anxious

• you’ve got an illness or disability which means you can’t wear one

If you’re disabled and you can’t wear a mask or face covering, you should ask your employer to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ for you.

You can find out what reasonable adjustments employers should make.

If you’re worried about people not wearing masks or face coverings at work

Talk to your employer. They have to make sure you’re safe at work. This might include making employees and members of the public wear masks or face coverings.

It depends on the situation where you work, for example:

• how close you are to other people

• how good the ventilation is

Tell your employer if you have a health condition that makes you vulnerable to coronavirus. It might be a reasonable adjustment for them to make people wear masks or face coverings.

You can find out what reasonable adjustments employers should make.