Face coverings can help stop coronavirus and other viruses, like colds and the flu, from spreading.
Coronavirus is a type of virus which can make people very unwell.
Will wearing a face covering stop me getting coronavirus?
No, face coverings help stop you from spreading the virus. They do not stop you from catching it.
Other people wear a face covering to keep you safer.
You wear a face covering to keep the people around you safer.


Everything you need to know about face coverings
To find out more about face coverings; when to wear them, how to wear them and why we wear them, read our
Easy Read
Easy Read is a way of making written information easier to understand. Pictures are usually added next to the writing.
guide.
Do I have to wear a face covering?
Although it is no longer UK
law
Laws are the rules that everyone in the country has to follow. If you don't follow the rules you can get in trouble with the police.
to wear a face covering, it is still strongly recommended by
the government
The Government are the people who run the country. They decide how much
tax
Tax is the money that pays for things like schools, hospitals and the police. There are different types of taxes like
income tax
Income tax is the money that is taken out of the money you earn every month. It helps to pay for things we all need like hospitals and schools.
,
VAT
VAT is also called Value Added Tax. VAT is the extra money you pay when you buy things. The money goes to the government to pay for things like schools and hospitals.
and
council tax
Council
A council is also called a
local authority
A local authority is also called a council. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live like schools,
social care
Social care means the services that give care and support to people who need it.
(support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live. These include: schools, social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
Tax is the money that people pay to the
council
A council is also called a
local authority
A local authority is also called a council. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live like schools,
social care
Social care means the services that give care and support to people who need it.
(support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live. These include: schools, social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
. It helps to pay for things like social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
.
people should pay for things and how things like the National Health
Service
A service gives people what they need, like healthcare services that help people when they are ill, and support services that give people support.
should work.
in public places.
Some people have a disability which means they cannot wear one, or they do not use one because it causes them severe distress and that is OK.
Exemption cards
If you do not want to wear a face covering in public, there are cards (sometimes called "exemption cards") which you can take with you when you go out to help explain if someone asks you why you don't wear one.
These cards can also be used to ask someone else to remove their face mask or covering, so you can understand them better.
Card for mobile or tablet
