Mandatory face coverings return from tomorrow, Tuesday 30 November 2021

Mandatory face coverings return from tomorrow, Tuesday 30 November 2021

Following the Government's announcement over the weekend, face coverings are required in shops and on public transport from tomorrow, Tuesday 30 November 2021.

This means you must wear a face covering in these settings.

The new rules have been put in place to help protect our communities from the spread of COVID-19 during the winter period, especially from the new variant Omicron.

It will be a few weeks before we will fully understand the new variant's transmissibility and severity. In the mean time, residents are being encouraged to continue to get vaccinated, follow the guidelines and to wear face coverings in certain areas to reduce the risk of transmission.

According to research in the British Medical Journal, wearing a face covering in crowded indoor areas reduces your risk of catching COVID-19 by 53%.

Whatever type of face covering you wear: a disposable surgical-grade face mask, a store bought 3-layer face covering, or a home-made face covering, all help to reduce your chances of catching or spreading COVID-19.

While some people may prefer to wear visors, these are not as effective as wearing a face covering as they do not protect from droplets spread when breathing and do not comply with regulations. In some settings, like at vaccination centres, you may be asked to use a face covering rather than a visor.

Some people may be exempt from wearing face coverings due to health issues.

Make sure you wear your face covering correctly

Face coverings are most effective when you wear them correctly. This means they should cover both your nose and your mouth.

Some face coverings have nose clips which allow you to shape the covering around the bridge of your nose for extra comfort and security.

Your face covering should not be loose or too tight.

Help stop the spread of COVID-19

There are simple things we can all do to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Get vaccinated - make sure you're fully vaccinated against COVID. First, second and booster doses are available in Rotherham. Go to Your Health Rotherham to find out more.

Wash your hands regularly with warm, soapy water and wipe down surfaces which you use often with soapy water.

If you're meeting friends or family, or going out to a festive event, take a lateral flow test before you go to make sure you don't have the virus. If you test positive, stay at home and order a PCR test by going online or calling 119.

Lateral flow testing kits are available from all Rotherham Council Libraries as well as through your local pharmacy and online.

Further information about getting tested is available on the Rotherham Council website.

It is important that you self-isolate for at least 10 days after testing positive for COVID-19. That means not having visitors to your house or leaving your house unless there is a medical emergency. If you can, try to stay away from people you live with so that you do not pass on the virus to them.

If you test positive for the new variant, Omicron, you must self-isolate for 10 days. Anyone you come into contact with must also self-isolate, regardless of their vaccination status.