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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 has announced.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said it would "give people more confidence to shop safely and enhance protections for those who work in shops".
The move will bring England into line with Scotland and other major European nations like Spain, Italy and Germany.
Since mid-May, members of the public have been advised to wear coverings in enclosed public spaces, where they may encounter people they would not usually meet.
Mask-wearing has been compulsory on public transport in England and at NHS facilities across the UK since 15 June.
Children under 11 and those with certain disabilities will be exempt.
The list of exemptions has not yet been published, but the rules for face masks
on public transport exempt anyone who cannot wear one "because of any physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability", who would experience "severe distress" from doing so, or relies on lip reading, among other reasons.
Comment: Funny. They only make people wear them once it has become clear that they are useless.
London's Met police
response: "nigh-on impossible" to enforce. "We'll be driving round and round London looking for people who weren't wearing masks, it's absolutely absurd," says Ken Marsh, who represents London police.
France is also making masks
obligatory in public on August 1.
For a sane take, see:
Why are COVID-19 cases spiking, but fatality rates dropping?
Comment: See also: