PART 5Face coverings
Requirement to wear face covering on public transportI119
1
A person (“P”) who is travelling as a passenger on a vehicle used to provide a public transport service must wear a face covering.
2
But this is not required—
a
where an exemption applies under paragraph (3);
b
where P has a reasonable excuse not to wear a face covering, as to which see paragraph (4).
3
An exemption to the requirement to wear a face covering applies—
a
where P is a child under the age of 11;
b
on a vehicle providing a school transport service;
c
on a ferry where—
i
the part of the ferry which is open to passengers is entirely outdoors, or
ii
a distance of at least 2 metres can be maintained between persons on the part of the ferry which is open to passengers;
d
on a cruise ship;
e
where P is allocated a cabin, berth or other similar accommodation on the vehicle, at any time when P is in that accommodation—
i
alone, or
ii
only with members of P's household or a member of the household's carer;
f
where—
i
P is permitted, or ordinarily required, to board and to stay in a vehicle when using the public transport service,
ii
the vehicle is not itself used for the provision of a public transport service, and
iii
P stays in that vehicle;
g
on an aircraft which neither took off from, nor is to land at, a place in Wales;
h
on a vessel which does not dock at a port in Wales.
4
The circumstances in which P has a reasonable excuse to not wear a face covering include—
a
where P is unable to put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or a disability (within the meaning of section 6 of the Equality Act 2010 M1);
b
where P has to remove the face covering to communicate with a person who has difficulty communicating (in relation to speech, language or otherwise);
c
where P has to remove the face covering in order to avoid harm or injury, or the risk of harm or injury, to P or others;
d
where P is travelling to avoid injury, or to escape a risk of harm, and does not have a face covering;
e
where P has to remove the face covering to—
i
take medication;
ii
eat or drink, if this is allowed on the vehicle and is reasonably necessary (for example due to the length of the journey);
f
where P is asked to remove the face covering by—
i
an enforcement officer, or
ii
the operator of the public transport service, an employee of the operator or a person authorised by the operator.
5
An operator of a public transport service to which paragraph (1) applies must provide information to passengers about the requirement to wear face coverings on their vehicles.
6
For the purposes of this regulation a “school transport service” means any transport service provided solely for the purpose of—
a
carrying a person to and from the school or other place at which the person receives education or training, or
b
otherwise facilitating a person's attendance at a school or other place at which the person receives education or training.