Face coverings are now required to be worn in all public indoor settings across Northern Ireland to try to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Facilities such as the Abbey Centre have publicised this message.
The Abbey Centre says customers may be asked to prove exemption on medical grounds.
Indoor settings include shops, shopping centres, transport services, airplanes, banks, churches and cinemas.
You must wear a face covering in Abbey Centre. If not, you may be asked to
prove exemption on medical grounds. Children under the age of 13 are exempt. Let’s keep making safer choices. #StaySafe pic.twitter.com/zpZRDhGTlJ— Abbey Centre (@abbeycentre) December 27, 2021
From 27 December, anyone who is exempt from the requirement to wear a face covering must be able to prove this to a relevant person, such as a police or enforcement officer. There will be a grace period before enforcement begins on 7 January.
If you do not wear a face covering and you are not exempt or do not have a reasonable excuse for not wearing one, you are committing an offence and could be fined.
You don’t have to wear a face covering in a public indoor place:
- if you are under the age of 13.
- if you are a member of staff or employee of the shop, shopping centre or bank and are behind a partition, or if you are in an area not open to the public and can maintain a two metre social distance from your colleagues.
- If you have a reasonable excuse not to.