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