Face coverings in shops to be made compulsory in England

With the economy taking a battering, the government is desperate to get us back into shops and spending again.

That would have informed today’s announcement that face coverings will become mandatory in shops in England from 24 July.

The health secretary said it would “increase confidence in people to shop”.

And as if we needed a further reminder that the virus is still with us, tonight Blackburn has announced new measures in reaction to an increase in cases.