Covid 19 - The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings) (England) Regulations 2021

At 5pm on Monday evening the Government laid the Regulations which will bring back mandatory face coverings in England.

The Regulations follow statements from the Prime Minister and Health Secretary in the wake of the newly identified Omicron variant of the Covid 19 virus.

The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings) (England) Regulations 2021 will come into force at 4am tomorrow morning (30th November 2021) and expire at the end of 20th December 2021.

As trailed in the announcements and Government briefings, the mandatory requirement will not apply to hospitality settings. Part 2 of the Regulations specifically excludes:

 a) restaurants, including restaurants and dining rooms in hotels or members’ clubs;
b) cafes and canteens;
c) bars, including bars in hotels or members’ clubs;
d) public houses;
e) any business which consists wholly or mainly of the provision of, whether for payment or otherwise—
   i. a waterpipe to be used for the consumption of tobacco or any other substance on the premises, or
   ii. a device to be used for the recreational inhalation of nicotine or any other substance on the premises;
f) any other premises, or part of premises, which are being used wholly or mainly by people eating or drinking.

The exemption in sub-paragraph (1)(f) does not apply in relation to any part of the premises in which people are not eating or drinking.