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Brits who refuse to wear masks ‘face £200 fines’ as Covid rules return

People wear face covering as they travel on the Underground, in London, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021. Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it was necessary to take ???targeted and precautionary measures??? after two people tested positive for the new variant in England. He also said mask-wearing in shops and on public transport will be required. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Travellers face PCR tests and people must wear masks on public transport amid fears over the Omicron variant (Picture: AP)

People who refuse to wear face masks on public transport and in shops could face fines of £200, it’s reported.

Face coverings will become mandatory again from Tuesday after three cases of Omicron, the most concerning Covid variant so far, were discovered in the UK.

Ministers have reportedly been warned the move will be met with a ‘high degree of non-compliance’.

But they are said to be hoping the reemergence of heavy fines will convince the public to follow the law.

Anyone who flouts face-covering rules will face an initial fine of £200, The Telegraph claims.

Similarly to earlier in 2021, this could rise to £400 for a second offence, and £800 for a third.

A maximum charge of £6,400 is to be tabled in the House of Commons on Monday, it’s believed.

Those who pay their first fine within 14 days will reportedly see it halved to £100. 

Shoppers wear face masks as they walk in Oxford Street, ahead of the new Tier-4 restriction measures, on December 19, 2020 in London, England. Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson says Christmas gatherings cannot go ahead and non-essential shops must close in London and much of southern England as he imposed a new, higher level of coronavirus restrictions to curb rapidly spreading infections. (Photo by Maciek Musialek/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Three cases of Omicron have been found in the UK so far (Picture: NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Face masks will not be mandatory in pubs or restaurants, or at cinemas and theatres.

But the Department of Education has told all headteachers to make them compulsory for secondary pupils and visitors in communal areas.

Travel rules are also tightening up, with anyone arriving in England ordered to take a PCR test on day two and to self-isolate until they have a negative result.

Despite fears over the new variant, Health Secretary Sajid Javid has advised people to ‘continue with their plans as normal for Christmas’.

He insisted it will be ‘a great Christmas’ – but added that it ‘would be irresponsible to make guarantees’ during the ever-changing pandemic.

The Department of Health and Social Care told Metro.co.uk: ‘In light of the new Omicron variant the government has taken swift and decisive action to mandate face coverings in some settings including shops and on public transport. 

‘Face coverings can provide protection to those around you and can help prevent the spread of the virus. 

‘This legal requirement will come into effect at 4am on Tuesday 30 November.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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