The government announced new rules surrounding face masks as part of a wave of measures to tackle the Omicron variant of Covid-19.
Before Wednesday's announcement, it was already a legal requirement to wear a face covering on public transport or risk facing a £200 fine.
From today (Friday), new rules mean that anyone aged 18 or over must wear a face mask to enter a wide range of indoor venues.
These include places such as cinemas, casinos and bowling alleys.
However pubs, bars and nightclubs are exempt.
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Another new rule that will affect people is the introduction of mandatory covid passes proving your vaccination status to enter many venues.
That is not expected to come into force until next Wednesday, which means it won't be required for entering any venues or nightclubs this weekend.
So, if you plan on going out this weekend, these are the face mask rules you need to be aware of.
Face mask rules for going out this weekend
If you're just going out to a restaurant or pub this weekend with some mates, then you won't need to wear a face mask - the government claims it's impractical to keep removing a face covering to ear or drink.
There are also exemptions for certain nighttime venues such as nightclubs or certain other night-time venues, including dance halls and discotheques.
Official government ruling states that a face covering is not required because it is not recommended that you wear a face covering while exercising or during strenuous physical activity - dancing is covered under strenuous physical activity.
While a face covering is not required for nighttime venues, the government still encourages you to do so where possible to reduce the spread of Covid-19.
Full list of places you will need to wear a face mask from Friday
From Friday, the public, as well as staff in public-facing areas, will need to wear a face covering in these additional settings:
- community centres (including village halls), youth centres, members clubs and social clubs
- libraries and public reading rooms
- polling stations and premises used for the counting of votes
- places of worship
- crematoria and burial ground chapels
- visitor attractions and entertainment venues (museums, galleries, cinemas, indoor theatres, concert halls, cultural and heritage sites, indoor areas at aquariums, zoos and visitor farms, bingo halls, snooker and pool halls, amusement arcades, adventure activity centres, indoor sports stadiums, funfairs, indoor theme parks, casinos, skating rinks, bowling alleys, indoor play areas including soft-play areas)
- public areas in hotels and hostels
- indoor areas of sports stadiums
Face coverings are already compulsory in these settings (since November 30):
- shops and supermarkets (places which offer goods or services for retail sale or hire)
- auction houses
- post offices, banks, building societies, high street solicitors and accountants, credit unions, short-term loan providers, savings clubs and money service businesses
- estate and letting agents
- premises providing personal care and beauty treatments (hair salons, barbers, nail salons, massage centres, tattoo and piercing parlours)
- pharmacies
- premises providing veterinary services
- retail galleries
- retail travel agents
- takeaways without space for consumption of food or drink on premises
- shopping centres (malls and indoor markets)
- public transport (aeroplanes, trains, trams, buses, coaches and ferries), taxis and private hire vehicles
- any car or small van during a professionally delivered driving lesson, a practical driving test, or during one of the practical tests for giving driving instruction, and in all HGV lessons and tests
- transport hubs (airports, rail and tram stations and terminals, maritime ports and terminals, bus and coach stations and terminals)
The places where you are exempt from wearing a face covering
Hospitality settings such as cafes, restaurants and pubs are automatically exempt because it's not practical to keep removing face coverings to eat or drink.
Nightclubs and other night-time venues such as dance halls and discotheques are also exempt as dancing comes under doing strenuous physical activity.
Other settings that are exempt include:
- Restaurants, cafes and canteens.
- Bars and shisha bars.
- Gyms and exercise facilities.
- Photography studios.
- Nightclubs, dance halls and discotheques.
