The wearing of face coverings in shops in England is compulsory from 24 July, and failing to do so could result in a £100 fine.
After initially being sceptical about their effectiveness in helping stop the spread of the coronavirus, the government says its view has evolved, as the scientific advice has changed.
People will also have to cover their mouth and nose in other enclosed public spaces, including banks, public transport hubs and takeaways. In some places, it’s up to individuals to decide, including in pubs, gyms and cinemas.
In Scotland, face coverings are already compulsory in shops, though not in Wales, and from August Northern Ireland will run a public information campaign encouraging the use of face coverings, before deciding whether or not to make them mandatory.
Clive Myrie presents BBC News at Ten reporting from business correspondent Sarah Corker in Wakefield.
Ireland is an island in the North Atlantic. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel, the Irish Sea, and St George’s Channel.
Geopolitically, Ireland is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially named Ireland), which covers five-sixths of the island, and Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom. As of 2016, 4.8 million people live in the Republic of Ireland, and 1.8 million live in Northern Ireland.
The Irish climate is influenced by the Atlantic Ocean and thus very moderate, and winters are milder than expected for such a northerly area, although summers are cooler than those in continental Europe. Rainfall and cloud cover are abundant.
A strong Irish culture exists, as expressed through Gaelic games, Irish music and the Irish language. The island’s culture shares many features with that of Great Britain, including the English language, and sports such as association football, rugby, horse racing, and golf.
Northern Ireland is variously described as a country, province, or region, which is part of the United Kingdom. Located in the northeast of the island of Ireland, Northern Ireland shares a border to the south and west with the Republic of Ireland.
Scotland is a country in Western Europe which forms part of the United Kingdom. Its government was joined with that of England’s through the 1707 Acts of Union. A devolved government now administers many of the affairs of the country, though ultimate authority still resides with Westminster. Scotland has a distinct legal system and national sporting associations. 5.2 million people live in Scotland and the largest city in the country is Glasgow, though the capital is Edinburgh where the government sits at the Scottish Parliament opposite Holyrood Palace.