Face covering exemptions as Nicola Sturgeon praises Scots for 'close to 100% compliance' with new rules

A full list of people exempt from wearing face coverings has been revealed by the Scottish Government.

Legislation was passed by officials making it legal requirement to wear a face covering inside a shop from Friday, July 10.

Managers and owners of the shop may turn you away if you refuse to wear one before going in.

Nicola Sturgeon praised Scots for abiding by the rules after she claimed that there has been “close to 100 per cent compliance” since the legislation was enforced.

Scots have been ordered to wear face coverings on public transport and shops - but there are some exemptions to the rules (Daily Record)

Tweeting, the First Minister said: “From both anecdotal feedback and my own observation from a quick visit to a couple of shops earlier, making face coverings mandatory has resulted in close to 100 per cent compliance.

"Well done, Scotland - let’s keep it up.”

People have also been urged to wear face coverings on public transport services in a further bid to stop the spread of the virus.

However, there are some exemptions to the rules as the coverings may be a hindrance to those with a medical condition.

Although Scots are urged to stick with the rules, there are also calls for people to think twice before pulling someone up for not wearing a mask.

These people are not required to wear a face covering in Scotland

• Kids under the age of five.
• Police constables or workers such as paramedics acting in the course of their duty
• Staff such as drivers or checkout assistants who are physically separated by the likes of screens from passengers or customers
• Shop workers if they maintain a two metre distance from customers or members of the public

Additional exemptions to the rules include:

• If you have a health condition or are disabled and a face covering would be inappropriate because it would cause difficult, pain or severe distress or anxiety or because you cannot apply a covering and wear it in the proper manner safely and consistently. Individual discretion should be applied in considering the use of face coverings for other children including those with breathing difficulties and disabled children who would struggle to wear a face covering

• You need to eat or drink
• You are taking medication
• You are communicating with someone who relies on lip reading
• A relevant person, such as a police officer, asks you to remove your face covering