When you do not need to wear a face covering
In settings where face coverings are required in England there are some circumstances where people may not be able to wear a face covering.
Please be mindful and respectful of such circumstances. Some people are less able to wear face coverings, and the reasons for this may not be visible to others.
This includes (but is not limited to):
children under the age of 11 (Public Health England does not recommend face coverings for children under the age of 3 for health and safety reasons)
people who cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability
where putting on, wearing or removing a face covering will cause you severe distress
if you are speaking to or providing assistance to someone who relies on lip reading, clear sound or facial expressions to communicate
to avoid harm or injury, or the risk of harm or injury, to yourself or others ‒ including if it would negatively impact on your ability to exercise or participate in a strenuous activity
police officers and other emergency workers, given that this may interfere with their ability to serve the public
There are also scenarios when you are permitted to remove a face covering:
if asked to do so in a bank, building society, or post office for identification
if asked to do so by shop staff or relevant employees for identification, for assessing health recommendations (for example by a pharmacist) or for age identification purposes, including when buying age restricted products such as alcohol
if required in order to receive treatment or services, for example when getting a facial
in order to take medication
if you are delivering a sermon or prayer in a place of worship
if you are the persons getting married in a relevant place
if you are aged 11 to 18 attending a faith school and having lessons in a place of worship as part of your core curriculum
if you are undertaking exercise or an activity and it would negatively impact your ability to do so
if you are an elite sports person, professional dancer or referee acting in the course of your employment
when seated to eat or drink in a hospitality premise such as a pub, bar, restaurant or cafe. You must put a face covering back on once you finish eating or drinking
The government’s guidance for keeping workers and customers safe during COVID-19 in restaurants, pubs, bars and takeaway services clearly advises that designated indoor seating areas for customers to eat or drink should at this time only be open for table service, where possible, alongside additional infection control measures.
This is what the government says.
I have found cloth masks make my anxiety worse, so have been using a sunflower lanyard given to me by a local shop, that also has their name on.
On the back of other threads where people have been judgemental about those of us who have panic attacks at the drop of a hat, I had a wander round amazon and there are plastic masks, when I get mine, I will also be seeing if I can ours cloth mask over the top because I can't see how plastic will stop any lurgy.