The Government has now published guidelines on all the areas where people will have to wear a face mask from tomorrow.
Face coverings will be mandatory in most indoor public areas in England from Friday, with exclusions for people with physical or mental illnesses or disabilities.
The full list for the exemptions is below, but there are fears that not enough people are aware of those who don't have to wear a covering under the regulations.
A charity is calling for more to be done following "horrific" cases of disabled people being abused.
Fazilet Hadi, a policy manager at Disability Rights UK, said she has already heard several stories of people being confronted on public transport - where masks have been mandatory since June - despite having legitimate reasons for not wearing one.
Ms Hadi and a number of people exempt from the rules said they fear further abuse as the use of face coverings becomes more widespread.
Ms Hadi called for a Government advertising campaign to raise awareness of the exemptions.
She said: "I'd love to see Government advertising... I'm sure I'm not going to. People really shouldn't be confronting other people.
"We heard horrific stories from the disability hate crime network about disabled people who've already been challenged on public transport.
"We really urge the public to be kind and assume that the people around them aren't wearing it for a reason."
A Government spokesperson said "The guidance is absolutely clear that you do not need to wear a face covering if you have a legitimate reason not to, including because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability.
"We expect people to be sensitive to the fact that some groups of people are not able to wear a face covering, and will continue to communicate this message to the general public."
Below are all the reasons and situations in which a person is not required to where a mask:
People who are exempt from wearing a mask in shops and public transport
- Children under the age of 11
- Shop staff and public transport operators in the course of their work (more below)
- Police or PCSOs in the course of their work
- Emergency responders in the course of their work
-
"Any other person providing services in the relevant place under arrangements made with the person responsible for a relevant place"
- People with breathing difficulties and other respiratory conditions.
- People with conditions affecting their dexterity, meaning they are not able to put on a face covering.
- People with mental health conditions such as anxiety or panic disorders.
- People with other non-visible disabilities such as autism.
- People with cognitive impairments, including dementia, who may not understand or remember the need to wear a face covering.
- People with visual impairments, with a restricted field of vision, particularly if any residual vision is at the lower edge of the normal field of view.
- People with impairments which would make it difficult to put on or take off a face covering safely, accurately, consistently or without pain
- Anyone else with justifiable reason not listed above on the grounds of health or disability.
Other people who have 'legitimate reason' not to wear a mask
- If putting on, wearing or removing a face covering will cause you severe distress
- If you are travelling with or providing assistance to someone who relies on lip reading to communicate
- To avoid harm or injury, or the risk of harm or injury, to yourself or others
- To avoid injury, or to escape a risk of harm, and you do not have a face covering with you
- To eat or drink if reasonably necessary
- To take medication
- If a police officer or other official requests you remove your face covering
