Face coverings

It's recommended that face coverings are made of cloth or other textiles and should be two, or preferably three, layers thick in line with WHO recommendations and fit snugly around the mouth, nose and chin while allowing you to breathe easily. Masks usually refer to things specifically designed for medical use, like a surgical mask. You don’t need a surgical mask – a fabric face covering can help keep you and others safe. For example, you could use a scarf. Religious face coverings that cover the nose and mouth also count.

The video here shows you how to make your own. 

Wearing a face covering or mask helps keep you and others safe from COVID-19. You can still catch and pass on the virus even if you have been vaccinated, so wearing a face covering helps to reduce the spread.

Although we no longer have to wear face coverings by law, it’s still a good idea to wear a face covering in most situations when you need to be indoors in a public place, for example, on public transport, in shops and when you’re moving around in a café, restaurant or pub. Some places like GP’s surgeries and hospitals, as well as other businesses and venues, may still ask you to wear a face covering.

Children under 5 shouldn’t wear face coverings at all, as it can be dangerous for them. They could cause suffocation, as babies and young children may not be able to remove them if they are having trouble breathing. The ties could also be a strangulation risk. In addition, having their faces covered can actually encourage young children to touch their faces more often.

In addition, you don’t need to wear a face covering if you have a reasonable excuse not to, that is, if: 

• you have a health condition where a face covering would be inappropriate because it would cause difficulty, pain or severe distress or anxiety (for example, if you have a respiratory condition) or because you can’t apply a covering and wear it in the proper manner safely and consistently
• you need to eat or drink
• you need to take medication
• you need to communicate with someone else who relies on lip reading
• a relevant person, such as a police officer, asks you to remove your face covering. 

You don't need a letter from your doctor or other proof to show you don't need to wear a face covering. However, you can download a Face Covering Exemption card if you are exempt.

When you and your child are wearing a face covering you should always:

• wash or sanitise your hands before putting on or taking off a face covering and avoid touching your face when wearing one. If you do touch your face covering, wash or sanitise your hands immediately afterwards
• replace your face covering immediately with a clean one if it becomes wet or dirty
• try to use a washable bag or container f you need to store your face covering, for example, in your pocket, so that you keep it as clean as possible
• avoid put your face covering down on surfaces because invisible germs could contaminate it
• wash and reuse your own face coverings rather than using single use face coverings
• wash face coverings on the highest setting suitable for the fabric, preferably 60°C if using a washing machine
• hand wash your face covering using detergent and warm to hot water if you don't have a washing machine and then iron it once dry to make sure all the germs are killed
• make sure the face covering is the right size to cover the nose, mouth and chin. 

Children should be taught how to wear the face covering properly. Explain to them that they shouldn't touch the front or pull the mask under their chin or into their mouth.

It’s also important that:

• you do not share your face covering with others.
• when temporarily storing a face covering it should be placed in a washable, sealed bag or container. Avoid placing it on surfaces, due to the possibility of contamination.
• if you're using a disposable face covering, wrap it in a bag and put it in the bin when finished with it.

You can read more about the use of face coverings here.

This video shows how you can make your face covering as effective as possible. Just remember that children under 12 don't need to wear face covering and under 5s shouldn't wear face coverings at all.