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All the places you legally have to wear a mask in England

Noel Gallagher before the Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester (Photo by Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)
Noel Gallagher has wrongly claimed he does not have to wear a mask by law (Picture: Getty)

Noel Gallagher has wrongly claimed he is not legally required to wear a face-covering in public.

The former Oasis guitarist made the controversial declaration on the Matt Morgan podcast, adding masks are “pointless”.

The 53-year-old said: “It’s not a law. There’s too many f***ing liberties being taken away from us now … I choose not to wear one.

“If I get the virus it’s on me, it’s not on anyone else … it’s a piss-take. There’s no need for it … They’re pointless.”

But Gallagher is wrong and people are required by law to wear face-coverings in several settings.

Passengers wearing face masks, currently mandated on public transport, ride a Central line tube service in London, England, on August 14, 2020. Passenger numbers on the London Underground remain well below pre-pandemic levels as the city continues its hesitant emergence from the coronavirus lockdown, with covid-19 fears still keeping many from using public transport. (Photo by David Cliff/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Face-coverings are required on public transport (Picture: Getty)

Here are the places you have to wear a face-covering:

  • Public transport

  • Transport hubs

  • Shops and supermarkets

  • Shopping centres

  • Auction houses

  • Premises providing professional, legal or financial services

  • Premises providing personal care and beauty treatments

  • Premises providing veterinary services

  • Visitor attractions and entertainment venues including museums, galleries, cinemas, theatres, aquariums and soft-play areas

  • Libraries and public reading rooms

  • Places of worship

  • Funeral service providers

  • Community centres, youth centres and social clubs

  • Exhibition halls and conference centres

  • Public areas in hotels and hostels

  • Storage and distribution facilities

With most shops now open but with retail sales suffering due to the Coronavirus pandemic, shoppers wearing face maks at Sainsbury's supermarket, which became compulsory in shops on the 24th July, out shopping on Kings Heath High Street on 31st July 2020 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. Coronavirus or Covid-19 is a respiratory illness that has not previously been seen in humans. While much or Europe has been placed into lockdown, the UK government has put in place more stringent rules as part of their long term strategy, and in particular social distancing. (photo by Mike Kemp/In PIctures via Getty Images)
Shoppers have to wear masks in supermarkets (Picture: Getty)

Exemptions to the rule:

  • Anyone under the age of 11

  • Not able to wear one due to a physical or mental illness, impairment or disability, or if wearing one will cause severe distress

  • Travelling with or providing assistance to someone who relies on lip-reading to communicate

  • Avoiding harm or injury to yourself or others

  • Avoiding injury and don’t have a face-covering with you

  • Eating or drinking if reasonably necessary

  • Taking medication

  • Asked by a police officer or other official to remove your face covering

Watch: How to wear a face covering comfortably

Punishments if you do not wear a face-covering

  • Anyone failing to wear a face-covering when required will be subject to the same penalties – a fine of up to £100, or £50 if paid within 14 days, with enforcement carried out by police and not retail staff.

  • Passengers who do not wear face coverings on public transport can have “reasonable force” used against them by police.

  • The rules can be enforced by police and transport staff with fines of £100.

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