Face coverings in England's shops to be compulsory from 24 July

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Wearing a face covering in shops and supermarkets in England is to become mandatory from 24 July.

Those who fail to comply with the new rules will face a fine of up to £100, the government is to announce.

The move will bring England into line with Scotland and other major European nations like Spain, Italy and Germany.

Since mid-May, the public have been advised to wear coverings in enclosed public spaces, where they may encounter people they would not usually meet.

It has been compulsory on public transport in England since 15 June.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock is expected to set out the new guidance on face coverings on Tuesday.

They are designed to minimise the spread of coronavirus and also encourage people to return to the shops safely.

It follows a reported increase in the use of face coverings by people in England, Scotland and Wales.

More than half of adults surveyed by the Office for National Statistics in the first week of July said they used a covering while outside their home.

Meanwhile, a report requested by the government's chief scientific adviser suggests the UK could see around 120,000 new coronavirus deaths in hospitals during a "reasonable" worst-case scenario this winter.

Labour said ministers' had been "slow and muddled" on face coverings and questioned why the new rules would not come into force for 11 days.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan told BBC Radio 4's Today programme using a face covering "is a small thing which along with other measures can make a massive difference".

He said that, on public transport in London, some 18,500 people have been stopped from travelling for not wearing a face covering since 15 June with 59 fines issued.

Penalties
The latest rules for shops will be enforced by the police, with anyone disregarding them at risk of a fine of up to £100. This will be reduced to £50 if people pay within 14 days.

While shop workers will be encouraged to prompt customers to comply, they will not be expected to enforce the rules, allaying unions' concerns about their involvement.

In line with the rules on public transport, children under 11 and those with certain disabilities will be exempt.

In Scotland, the use of coverings in shops has been mandatory since 10 July. Shoppers in Wales and Northern Ireland are not currently required to wear them, although both nations have said this will be kept under review.

Police did not issue a single fine across Scotland over the first weekend of compulsory face coverings.

Boris Johnson signalled a shift in the government's position on Friday when he spoke of the need for a stricter approach in confined settings and was pictured wearing a mask in a shop in his Uxbridge constituency.

The PM's words contrasted with those of Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove who had downplayed the suggestion of any immediate legal change, saying on Sunday face coverings were a matter of "courtesy and good manners".

'Slow and muddled'
Labour said the mixed messages demonstrated the government's indecision during the pandemic, and ministers had to explain the "further delay".

"The government has been slow and muddled again," shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said.

He added that "many will ask why yet again have ministers been slow in making a decision in this pandemic".

A No 10 spokesman said: "There is growing evidence that wearing a face covering in an enclosed space helps protect individuals and those around them from coronavirus.

"The prime minister has been clear that people should be wearing face coverings in shops and we will make this mandatory from 24 July."

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