Face masks mandatory in shops and supermarkets in Wales

Changes to the amount of people who can meet in doors and the use of face masks in Wales come into force from today.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said the new measures “are to prevent a new coronavirus crisis in Wales, not respond to one.”

As part of the changes face coverings are required in all indoor public places, for both customers and staff working in those indoor public areas.

This includes a very wide range of locations, such as shops and shopping centres, places of worship, hairdressers and salons, cinemas and museums, gyms and leisure centres, and anywhere that is open to members of the public.

It would also include any public areas within buildings that are otherwise closed to the public – for example a reception area of an office building.

The only indoor public areas where face coverings will not be required are where you are inside a place to eat or drink, for example, cafés, restaurants and pubs.

But where food and drink is only being served for consumption in part of the premises – for example, a café which also offers take away services – you will need to wear a face covering in the parts of the premises where people are not eating or drinking.

The requirement will apply to everyone aged 11 and over – including customers and staff.

However, you may have a reasonable excuse not to wear a face covering if (for example):

• You are not able to put on or to wear a face covering because of a physical or mental illness, or because of a disability or impairment;
• You are accompanying somebody who relies on lip reading where they need to communicate; or
• You are escaping from a threat or danger and don’t have a face covering.

From today only a maximum of six people from the extended household will be able to meet indoors at any one time. This rule applies in pubs and restaurants as well as in people’s homes.

Children under 11 will not be counted in the six.

The first minister said: “Coronavirus is on the rise again in Wales, after many weeks of being in decline.

“Once again we are having to focus on tightening restrictions across Wales to prevent cases from rising even higher and prevent the problem from worsening – as we have seen elsewhere in the UK.

“The new measures we are announcing today are designed to prevent a new coronavirus crisis here in Wales, not respond to one.

“Wales is not immune to the spread of coronavirus elsewhere in the UK, and as difficulties deepen elsewhere, we must expect that to have an impact here, too.”