The British government has made wearing a face covering compulsory in shops and supermarkets in England from next week. "The Prime Minister has been clear that people should be wearing face coverings in shops and we will make this mandatory from July 24," a statement said last night from Boris Johnson's Downing Street office. "There is growing evidence that wearing a face covering in an enclosed space helps protect individuals and those around them from coronavirus," it added.
Britain has been one of the countries worst hit by the virus, with almost 45,000 deaths attributed to it. Face masks have been mandatory on public transport in England since 15 June, and Health Secretary Matt Hancock will formally extend that to shops and