Compulsory masks in shops from 24th and petrol stations

[TonyTony]

gareth_r said:

The law.

Plus, I suppose, any restrictions you decide to impose on people who come into your premises.

Its the law for the customer, not the staff.

[agtlaw]

mawallace said:

Now here is confusion from the Government -

The Government guidance read, on 31 July 2020 as follows:-


For members of the public, from 8 August the places where you will have to wear a face covering will be expanded to include:

• funeral directors
• premises providing professional, legal or financial services …..

Highlighting mine.

The guidance now reads:-

In England, you must wear a face covering in the following indoor settings (a list of examples for each is included in the brackets):

• public transport (aeroplanes, trains, trams and buses)
• transport hubs (airports, rail and tram stations and terminals, maritime ports and terminals, bus and coach stations and terminals)
• shops and supermarkets (places which offer goods or services for retail sale or hire)
• shopping centres (malls and indoor markets)
• auction houses
• premises providing professional, legal or financial services (post offices, banks, building societies, high-street solicitors and accountants, credit unions, short-term loan providers, savings clubs and money service businesses)

Highlighting mine.

The word “must” and the text that comes after this would suggest that it is a legal requirement that you wear a face covering in an accountant office, such as mine.

However, I have read the latest regulation https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/839/regul... and I note that the following settings were added:-

“5. Indoor places of worship.
6. Community centres including youth centres.
7. Crematoria and burial ground chapels.
8. Public areas in hotels and hostels.
9. Concert halls, exhibition halls and other public halls.
10. Cinemas.
11. Museums, galleries, aquariums, indoor zoos and visitor farms, and other indoor, or indoor parts of, tourist, heritage or cultural sites.
12. Bingo halls.
13. Public libraries and reading rooms.”.

Professional offices are not on the list.

As the owner of an accountancy practice I would like to know if it is Government advice, or the Law, which governs the wearing of face covering.

You’re probably looking in the wrong place. Law is on the legislation website.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/839/intro...

Explanatory note: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/839/note/...

The original face coverings legislation is here:

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/791/conte...

At the time of writing, the original has not been updated to include the amendments. Therefore, it must be read with the new SI.

Whereas “Premises providing professional, legal or financial services” were exempt “shops”, those places are now omitted from the excluded premises list.

From 8 August, only excluded shop premises are:

SCHEDULE 2
Exemptions from definition of shop

1. Premises (other than registered pharmacies) providing wholly or mainly medical or dental services, audiology services, chiropody, chiropractic, osteopathic, optometry or other medical services including services relating to mental health.
2. Indoor fitness studios, gyms, dance studios, leisure centres, indoor swimming pools, water parks, funfairs, theme parks or other premises for indoor sports, leisure or adventure activities.
3. Photography studios.”.

[gareth_r]

TonyTony said:

gareth_r said:

The law.

Plus, I suppose, any restrictions you decide to impose on people who come into your premises.

Its the law for the customer, not the staff.

Yes... and?

[TonyTony]

gareth_r said:

Yes... and?

Thought you were referring to staff with "The law" and customers with impose your own restrictions.

[MrTrilby]

Popeyed said:

Have there been any reported mass casualties amongst supermarket workers? It would appear not, none at all it would seem, or the hysterical media would have been all over it.

A complete load of rubbish which too many devoid of any common sense or critical thinking ability are unable to question.

Common sense might involve using Google to check whether mortality rate by occupation has been looked at, and it has:
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunit...

Critical thinking reveals that the report shows higher than average mortality for male shop workers.

It isn’t hard to find media outlets that have reported on that study.

[gareth_r]

TonyTony said:

gareth_r said:

Yes... and?

Thought you were referring to staff with "The law" and customers with impose your own restrictions.

I see.

No. The law obviously (currently) refers only to customers, but any business can impose restrictions on both staff (e.g. wearing a uniform, or wearing a mask) and customers (e.g. only dealing with clients who exceed a wealth or business turnover threshold, or requiring that they wear masks).