Image: © Oliver Dowden/Twitter
The UK Government has confirmed that face coverings will become mandatory in museums, galleries and other indoor public spaces as of the coming weekend.
Having frozen plans to reopen a raft of indoor venues which have remained closed since March, Boris Johnson has also announced that many sites already welcoming visitors will need to further tighten safety measures as Covid cases begin to rise again in Britain.
While all cultural venues that have reopened to the public in recent days and weeks have taken precautions to prioritise safety, they will be required by law to ensure everyone admitted wears a face covering as of Saturday 8th August.
PM @BorisJohnson has announced today that some of the proposed changes to the rules in August will be postponed for at least a fortnight.
This is to keep the virus under control. Read his full statement here: https://t.co/6JMjgCppF8 pic.twitter.com/TU2YrWtlTg
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) July 31, 2020
How long this will be the case is unknown, as is the potential impact – whether positive or negative – it could have on visitor numbers.
The change applies to “museums, galleries, aquariums, indoor zoos or visitor farms, or other indoor tourist, heritage or cultural sites” in England, with the devolved governments in the UK setting their own Covid agendas.
