They must be worn unless you have a reasonable excuse.

Face coverings are now mandatory in all retail stores, shopping centres and other indoors settings in Ireland from today. In accordance with public health advice, face coverings were already compulsory on public transport but the government last week confirmed a decision had been made to extend this to other areas.

The regulations apply to shops, supermarkets, shopping centres, retail outlets, hairdressers, nail bars, cinemas, museums and libraries.

The regulations say that unless a person has a reasonable excuse, a face covering must be worn. They do not apply to children under 13 or to people who cannot wear one due to a physical or mental illness. All retail staff will be required to wear them, except in cases where workers are separated from others by a screen or are able to keep two metres away from others. The penalty for non compliance is a fine of up to €2,500 or six months in jail, however, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has said this would be be a last resort. The new regulations around face coverings come into effect as coronavirus cases rose in Ireland last week, with restrictions being imposed on Kildare, Laois and Offaly following clusters of cases in meat processing plants.