Mask wearing was announced on Sunday along with tighter restrictions on travel
With cases of the new Omicron covid variant now confirmed in the UK and Christmas just around the corner, Brits are grappling with new restrictions and worries about their Christmas plans.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the return of specific restrictions on Sunday November 28, with mask-wearing and travel taking precedent. Though further restrictions are not off the table, a return to wearing masks has drummed up a lot of questions.
As of Tuesday November 30, people in retail shops or public transport now have to wear a mask unless medically exempt.
The full list of indoor venues now requiring a mask was released on Monday and includes:
- Shops
- Supermarkets
- Shopping centres
- Takeaways
- Auction houses and retail galleries
- Post offices, banks, building societies, high street solicitors and accountants, credit unions, short term loan providers, savings clubs and money service businesses
- Estate and letting agents and retail travel agents
- Premises providing personal care and beauty treatments
- Pharmacies
- Vets
- Public transport services
- Taxis and private hire vehicles
- Transport hubs
- Face coverings must also be worn in any car or small van during a professionally delivered driving lesson, a practical driving test or during one of the practical tests for giving driving instruction.
Those of you who choose not to wear a mask could be slapped with a £200 fine, while continuous violations could see fines of up to £6,400.
No restrictions on the hospitality industry have been imposed as of yet but could be in the future if mask-wearing does not break the spread of the new variant.
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