Coronavirus: Protective Clothing

(asked on 11th February 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason it is his policy to exempt people from wearing face coverings without the need to provide medical proof.


Answered by
Jo Churchill Portrait
Jo Churchill
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
This question was answered on 26th February 2021

People are not required to prove they have an exemption or reasonable excuse which means they do not need to wear a face covering and it is for individuals to choose how they communicate this to others.

We expect that the majority of those who do not wear a face covering in regulated settings have a reasonable excuse or exemption. The Government has actively engaged with stakeholders including disability charities to understand the impact of the policy on disabled people. By requesting that members of the public be respectful of circumstances where someone cannot wear a face covering and issuing guidance that no one need prove their exemption, we aim to minimise the negative impact on those with disabilities, which is a protected characteristic. The Department, as a public authority, is legally obliged to give due regard to the Public Sector Equality Duty when making policy decisions by considering the impact of policy on groups with protected characteristics.

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