February 12, 2021
You can find up-to-date information on the wearing of face coverings / masks due to the COVID-19 pandemic and information relating to exemptions on the States website here.
Here is some further information about the wearing of face masks, which will come into effect on Saturday 13th February. Face coverings must be worn in certain specific indoor public spaces and on all public transport, unless you are exempt.
Exemption’s will be made if any of the following reasons apply:
- if a person cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability
- if putting on, wearing or removing a face covering will cause a person severe distress
- if a person needs to speak to or provide assistance to someone who relies on lip reading, clear sound or facial expressions to communicate, or if wearing a mask will cause distress to the person someone is assisting
The wearing of face coverings will also be exempt in the following circumstances:
- if asked to remove the covering in court, by a judge, for the purpose of giving evidence or confirming identity
- if asked to remove the covering in a bank, building society, or post office or by a relevant official (e.g. a police officer) for identification
- if asked to remove the covering by shop staff or relevant employees for identification, for assessing health recommendations (for example by a pharmacist) or for age identification purposes, including when buying age restricted products such as alcohol
- in order to take medication
The sunflower lanyard can be worn to indicate that a person is exempt. If required these are available to collect from all major retail outlets listed below. They can also be collected from from the Beau Sejour Centre.
The States has asked that you do not make a special journey to collect the lanyard/ badge, but do it as part of your essential shopping visit, as we are all supposed to be limiting our visits to these venues.
Venues that have sunflower lanyards and exemption cards:
- Waitrose – Admiral Park and the Rohais
- CO-OP Grande Marches – St Martin and St Sampson’s,
- Marks and Spencer- L’Islet, St Peter Port and St Martins
- Alliance
- Forest Stores
- Morrisons at St Peters.
The exemption cards are also available to print. Two images have also been produced which can be carried on a mobile phone to indicate an exemption or that you need someone to remove their face covering so you can understand them.
Using a lanyard or carrying an exemption card is not mandatory but may assist if you are exempt from wearing a mask for the reasons started above.
The face covering exemption card is available for printing from the States website here.