The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) Regulations 2020

Requirement to wear face covering in certain indoor public places E+W

20.—(1) A person (“P”) must wear a face covering in indoor public areas of premises to which the public have or are permitted access [F1 , other than premises where food or drink is sold, or otherwise provided, for consumption on the premises].

(2) But this is not required—

(a) where P is a child under the age of 11;

[F2 (aa) where P is attending a solemnisation of a marriage, formation of a civil partnership or alternative wedding ceremony;]

(b) where P has a reasonable excuse not to wear a face covering, as to which see paragraph (3).

(3) 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);

(b) where P is undertaking an activity and wearing a face covering during that activity may be considered to be a risk to P's health;

(c) where P has to remove the face covering to communicate with a person who has difficulty communicating (in relation to speech, language or otherwise);

(d) 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;

(e) where P is at the premises to avoid injury, or to escape a risk of harm, and does not have a face covering;

(f) where P has to remove the face covering to—

(i) take medication;

(ii) eat or drink, where reasonably necessary;

(g) where P is asked to remove the face covering by an enforcement officer;

F3 (h) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F4 (4) For the purposes of paragraph (1), where—

(a) a business (“business A”) sells, or otherwise provides, food or drink for consumption on the business premises,

(b) business A forms part of a larger business (“business B”), and

(c) business B also carries on its business on the premises, but does not sell, or otherwise provide, food or drink for consumption on those premises,

P is to be treated as being in premises where food or drink is sold, or otherwise provided, for consumption on the premises only where P is in the part of the premises at which business A carries on its business.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in reg. 20(1) inserted (7.8.2021 at 6.00 a.m.) by The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 15) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/925), regs. 1(3), 2(16)(a)

F2 Reg. 20(2)(aa) inserted (28.8.2021) by The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 16) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/970), regs. 1(2), 2(4)

F3 Reg. 20(3)(h) omitted (7.8.2021 at 6.00 a.m.) by virtue of The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 15) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/925), regs. 1(3), 2(16)(b)

F4 Reg. 20(4) inserted (7.8.2021 at 6.00 a.m.) by The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 15) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/925), regs. 1(3), 2(16)(c)

Commencement Information

I1 Reg. 20 in force at 20.12.2020, see reg. 1(3)