Face Coverings

Indoor public spaces

Face coverings must legally be worn whilst in indoor public spaces from Saturday 13 February 2021.

These indoor public spaces include but are not limited to:

• Shops
• Supermarkets
• Pharmacies
• Banks
• Post Offices
• Petrol Stations
• Airport Terminal
• Harbour Terminal
• GP Surgeries
• Princess Elizabeth Hospital
• Dental Surgeries
• Health Clinics and Allied Health Services
• Residential and Nursing Homes
• Crematoriums and Funeral Directors’ Premises

Public transport includes buses and taxis.

Face coverings will be worn in schools in line with advice provided by Public Health, which strongly recommends they be worn where appropriate by secondary age students and adults.

Outdoor public spaces

In addition to the above legal requirement, we would continue to strongly advise face coverings to be worn in outside spaces too, although we recognise that it is simply not practical to do so when you are exercising heavily.

It is strongly recommended that you wear a face covering if you are out exercising or undertaking other recreational activities in urbanised areas or in areas where other people are undertaking recreational activities.

If you are exercising in an isolated area with no other people around you do not need to wear a face covering, but you should have one readily available to put on if you see another person. Hands should be washed/sanitised before face coverings are touched.

You do not need to wear a face covering in your own car.

In the context of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, a face covering is something which safely covers the nose and mouth and can include a scarf, bandana, or hand-made cloth covering but these must securely fit round the side of the face. Face coverings are largely intended to protect others, not the wearer, against the spread of infection because they cover the nose and mouth, which are the main confirmed sources of transmission of virus that causes coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

A face covering does not include a face visor or shields because these are not considered to adequately cover the nose and mouth.

Face coverings are not compulsory for children under the age of 12. However children of primary school age who can tolerate wearing a mask should do so where possible.

There are further exemptions to the requirement to wear face coverings in indoor public spaces, or whilst travelling on public transport and in all cases wearing will be subject to a reasonable excuse. These include:

• if a person cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability
• if putting on, wearing or removing a face covering will cause a person severe distress
• if a person needs to speak to or provide assistance to someone who relies on lip reading, clear sound or facial expressions to communicate, or if wearing a mask will cause distress to the person someone is assisting
• if asked to do so in court, by a judge, for the purpose of giving evidence or confirming identity
• if asked to do so in a bank, building society, or post office or by a relevant official (e.g. a police officer) 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
• in order to take medication

If any of the exemptions apply to you, we have created an exemption card and images that you can carry with you. In addition sunflower lanyards can be worn and will be available from the following locations: 

• Alliance
• Beau Sejour Leisure Centre
• Co-Op Grand Marche (St Martins and St Sampson)
• GP surgeries
• Iceland (Cobo)
• M&S (St Martins, St Peter Port & L'Islet)
• Morrisons (St Peters)
• Waitrose (Admiral Park and Rohais)

The exemption card and images can be downloaded from the bottom of this web page. 

Carrying a lanyard or proof of exemption is however a personal choice and is not required by law.

Face coverings are largely intended to protect others, not the wearer, against the spread of infection because they cover the nose and mouth, which are the main confirmed sources of transmission of virus that causes the coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

Face coverings should be changed regularly (every 4 hours if possible or sooner if they become damp or if you have touched it).

Single-use face coverings should be disposed of carefully in a waste bin and not in the recycling.

Face coverings that can be laundered should be washed at 60 degrees, dried in a tumble drier (if possible) and ironed.