Sainsbury’s issues face mask update to shoppers ahead of Plan B rule changes in England

Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com 
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Visit Shots! now

This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.

Face masks will no longer be required to be worn by law in all settings in England from 27 January

Sainsbury’s has issued an update on the wearing of face masks inside its stores ahead of Plan B rules ending in England.

The Prime Minister confirmed last week that Covid restrictions brought in to tackle the Omicron variant at the end of last year can be eased following a decline in cases.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad
Sainsbury’s is still recommending that shoppers and staff wear face masks inside its stores (Photo: Getty Images)Sainsbury’s is still recommending that shoppers and staff wear face masks inside its stores (Photo: Getty Images)
Sainsbury’s is still recommending that shoppers and staff wear face masks inside its stores (Photo: Getty Images) | Getty Images

England will move to Plan A from Thursday (27 January), meaning face masks will no longer be required to be worn by law in all settings.

The government said guidance will still suggest that face coverings be considered in enclosed or crowded spaces, but people will not be criminalised for choosing not to wear one.

Ahead of the new rules taking effect this week, Sainsbury’s has said it will still recommend that shoppers and staff wear face masks inside its stores across England, unless they have a medical exemption.

In an update to shoppers, the supermarket said: “Safety remains our highest priority. From Thursday, we’re asking our customers and colleagues in England to continue to wear a face covering in our stores if they are able to.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"In Scotland and Wales face coverings remain mandatory for those who can wear them in our stores, in line with the latest Government restrictions.

"We continue to have a range of safety measures in all of our stores, including screens and sanitising stations."

What rules are changing on 27 January?

As well as changes to face mask rules, Covid passes will also be scrapped from 27 January.

This means that people will no longer be asked to show proof of their vaccination status or a recent negative test to gain entry into nightclubs and other large venues and events.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

However, the government has said some may continue asking for one on a voluntary basis.

The Department for Education will also remove national guidance on the use of face coverings in communal areas of schools, but masks could still be required in the event of coronavirus outbreaks, at the approval of Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi.

Work-from-home guidance in England has already been relaxed to allow people to return to offices, and the requirement to wear face masks in school classrooms was dropped last Wednesday.

The legal requirement to self-isolate if you have Covid-19 is still in place and will not expire until 24 March, meaning people must continue to quarantine if they test positive.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mr Johnson said he is hoping to bring this date forward if the data allows.

A message from the editor:

Thank you for reading. NationalWorld is a new national news brand, produced by a team of journalists, editors, video producers and designers who live and work across the UK. Find out more about who’s who in the team, and our editorial values. We want to start a community among our readers, so please follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and keep the conversation going. You can also sign up to our newsletters and get a curated selection of our best reads to your inbox every day.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.

Telling news your way
Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice