Speaking earlier in the House of Commons, prime minister Boris Johnson said that, as part of a suite of increased restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus, all retail staff would need to wear face coverings at work from Thursday. 

Johnson said that such measures would now be considered a legal requirement as part of its moves to make sure that businesses can stay open in a “Covid-secure way”. 

“[From Thursday] we will extend the requirement to wear face coverings to include staff in retail, all users of taxis and private-hire vehicles and staff and customers in indoor hospitality, except when seated at a table to eat or drink,” said Johnson.