The government is set to announce today that the wearing of a mask/face covering in all shops in England is to become mandatory from 24th July.
Under these new regulations, it is stated that fines of up to £100 will be enforced by police officers for those whole fail to comply.
This fine will be reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days.
A spokesperson for No.10 confirmed yesterday evening that: “There is growing evidence that wearing a face covering in an enclosed space helps protect individuals and those around them from coronavirus. The prime minister has been clear that people should be wearing face coverings in shops and we will make this mandatory from 24 July.”
Since mid-May, the public have been advised to wear coverings in enclosed public spaces, where they may encounter people they would not usually meet.
ADVERTISEMENT
With this new guidance expected to be detailed in full and officially released by the UK government today, where exactly are face masks and coverings already mandatory in England, and where will they be as of 24th July 2020?
We’re not back to normal yet.
It is vital that you continue to keep a safe distance from others.
In situations where you can't keep 2 metres apart, stay at least 1 metre apart while taking other extra precautions.
— Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) July 13, 2020
It was declared that from 15th June 2020 it would become mandatory for anyone travelling by bus, train, ferry or plane in England to wear a face covering.
ADVERTISEMENT
A number of passengers are exempt from the regulations including:
Children under 11.
People with disabilities.
Those with breathing difficulties.
Anyone travelling with someone who relies on lip reading.
These regulations also state if it is “reasonably necessary” for you to eat or drink, then you are permitted to remove the face covering in order to do so.
The modes of public transport that are excluded from the above regulations cruise ships, school transport, taxis and private hire vehicles, however, ride-sharing company Uber did make face coverings compulsory for all drivers and passengers from 15th June too.
ADVERTISEMENT
Passengers can be refused travel if they don’t follow the face covering rules and can be fined as a last resort.
Environment Secretary George Eustice has appeared on a number of media outlets live this morning to discuss the new face covering regulations that are set to become mandatory and has indicated that the wearing of masks will however not be compulsory in restaurants, eateries, bars and pubs, although confirmation of this in full is expected along with the published guidance today.
When questioned, Mr Eustice also went on to defend the Government’s delay on bringing the new measures in, stating that it was based on “changing evidence”.
Please refer to official sources via the gov.uk/coronavirus website here for more information on the above upon release.
You can also visit the @PHE_uk interactive dashboard which included local authority data for England: ➡️ https://t.co/8OHvHj6yyM
— Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) July 13, 2020
#StaySafeSaveLives
News
When does the UK’s fourth heatwave of the year hit Greater Manchester?
Danny Jones
Brace yourselves: ANOTHER heatwave is set to hit the UK – the fourth in 2026 so far – and, understandably, Greater Manchester residents are already preparing for the latest blast of hot weather and wondering when it gets here.
Yes, in case you missed the news, more high temperatures are set to spread across Great Britain and Ireland this month and heading into August.
The increase will gradually build throughout this week, with Wednesday tipped to be the hottest day according to various meteorological sources.
Fortunately for us here in the North West, parts of the Midlands and the usual suspects down south are set to hit the highest numbers, but the thermometers are still on course to reach around the mid-20s over the coming days.
Temperatures are set to rise this week across some areas, bringing a return to hotter conditions 🥵
The heat looks to be fairly short-lived, however, with temperatures expected to fall again towards the end of the week 🌡️ pic.twitter.com/IKsunEdwhU
Estimates of 26°C have been predicted for this coming Tuesday, with the levels floating in and around 24/25 on the following Wednesday.
The heat is then due to drop off slowly, with top scores of no higher than 21°C on the cards for Thursday and Friday. Although the weekend forecast is less certain at present, one thing that has been announced is reduced rainfall.
Aside from a few more trickles today (Mon, 27 July), the showers or lack thereof cease rather soon, with some of the driest parts of the country already having various effects; for instance, parched parts of Wales have even revealed lost archaeological sites last Friday (24/7/2026).
It would be remiss if we didn’t mention the obvious moorland fires across our region, which were sadly exacerbated by hot weather earlier this month.
Following on from the hottest June on record, the Dovestone and Tinwhistle areas of Oldham and parts of Derbyshire saw hundreds of hectares turn into a deeply dangerous blaze for several days.
As per the latest statistics, it’s said that the equivalent of 1,250 football pitches were scorched following the alarming wildfire, which also raised concerns for wildlife and surrounding air quality.
Former US President Barack Obama is coming to Manchester for a special ‘Evening With’ event
Danny Jones
No, not a prank: the former President of the United States, Barack Obama, is coming to Manchester on his upcoming UK tour.
Confirming just three domestic dates across Great Britain and Ireland, the 44th President turned successful global speaker has delivered talks all over the world, and now he’ll be coming to the Co-op Live arena.
We always knew the industry-leading events space was going to lead to some big names, but no one was expecting this one.
Set to deliver his first-ever ‘An Evening With’ here in Greater Manchester, Barack Obama will be coming to the Co-op later this year.
Officially announcing the live show in line with a key American date, Obama will be making his first-ever visit to our city.
The Co-op Live post reads: “As America marks 250 years since the Declaration of Independence, President Barack Obama joins us in Belfast, Glasgow and Manchester to discuss what comes next – for America, and for all of us.”
More than two and a half centuries on from the start of the nation becoming the United States, the series of intimate interviews comes alongside a significant anniversary for both countries.
Always praised for being a talented orator, the 64-year-old ex-Commander in Chief has found a fruitful second career on the so-called ‘keynote circuit’ following his time as POTUS.
Having served two consecutive terms in the post, it feels undeniably surreal to hear that he will be coming to visit, especially amid the obvious recent development of our very own Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, having now become the 59th British PM.
As for Obama, it’s no surprise that he booked the biggest venue possible for his debut talk in 0161.
Presented by SeatUnique, who specialise in affordable but premium hospitality seats/tickets for live entertainment, it goes without saying that this is an unprecedented moment for the venue, specifically.
Set to arrive on 15 October, tickets go live from 10am at the end of this month, with official Co-op members pre-sale passes available from the same time on Wednesday, 29 July.
You can get ready to grab your tickets right HERE.
Manchester is an international city and its popularity is growing rapidly. Barack Obama, former US President is reportedly coming to Manchester this October. pic.twitter.com/9twbfaIWbI
The Manc -
14th July 2020 
