New rules on wearing face coverings in public have come into force in England, to help protect people from catching COVID-19.
In line with the new government rules, people will have to wear a face covering when they are using any form of public transport, or when they are going to hospital for an appointment or to visit somebody. Face coverings should be worn in enclosed spaces such as shops, where social distancing is not possible.
Face coverings do not protect you from contracting coronavirus. However, if you are infected but haven’t yet developed symptoms, they should help to provide some protection for people you come into contact with.
A face covering is not the same as a face mask used within a health and care setting. It is important that face masks are only used by health and care professionals, to ensure that the supply of these masks for key workers who are at a particular risk is not reduced.
For more information on the effective use of face coverings, see these pages of the national www.gov.uk website.
The government set out advice for people on how to make their own face coverings easily at home, using scarves or other textile items. These face coverings should cover the mouth and nose while allowing the wearer to breathe comfortably and can be as simple as a scarf or bandanna that ties behind the head to give a snug fit.