Wearing face masks in pharmacies becomes compulsory in Scotland

As of this week, wearing a face covering will be mandatory for customers in shops in Scotland – including community pharmacies – the Scottish government has announced.

FaceMaskDIY_shutterstock_1683745294_620x413.jpg
Members of the public will have to wear a face covering in pharmacies in Scotland from July 10

Speaking at a daily coronavirus press briefing last week (July 2), Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon said it will be mandatory for members of the public to wear a face covering in shops from July 10.

The public will be required by law to wear a face covering in enclosed spaces, such as GP surgeries and pharmacies, “where it is not always possible to maintain a two-metre distance from other people”, the Scottish government said in an update on its website last Friday (June 3).

Exceptions to the rule

Children under the age of five should not use a face covering and “discretion is allowed for people who have a health condition, disabled people and those who need to communicate with a person who has difficulties communicating”, the Scottish government said.

The police in Scotland will enforce the law. Where people over the age of 18 fail to comply with these and other safety measures introduced to reduce contact with other people and slow down the rate of COVID-19 transmission, they will be issued a penalty notice of £60 – which could be reduced to £30 if paid within 28 days.

Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS) CEO Harry McQuillan said in a video update last week (July 2) that the organisation understands that the first minister’s announcement “will raise a few issues for pharmacy teams as you consult with and advise patients on symptoms and on an appropriate course of action”.

The CPS team will consider these issues and publish advice on the topic this week, Mr McQuillan said.

“What I would say is that this doesn’t change the current advice of two-metre physical distancing, regular hand and surface cleaning and the wearing of PPE,” he added.

In Wales, the use of non-medical face coverings is recommended in situations where it is difficult to maintain the two-metre social distance. The Department of Health and Social Care (DH) in England is advising people to wear a face covering when they visit a pharmacy. However, while wearing a face covering is compulsory for patients and visitors at hospitals in England, it has not been made a requirement in primary care, including pharmacy.

Last month, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society asked the DH to extend the requirement for patients to wear a face covering in hospitals from June 15 across all primary care settings.

Latest from News

Supermarket cough medicines recalled over ‘foreign material’

 

A manufacturer is recalling several batches of cough medicine, including some it produces for Tesco and Asda, after “foreign material” was found in some bottles.

‘Open every day since 1952’: Wicker Pharmacy celebrates 73 years

 

Award-winning Wicker Pharmacy in Sheffield has celebrated 73 years of late opening “every single day”.

ICB investigating plunge in Pharmacy First GP referrals

 
• By 

A London integrated care board (ICB) is “working to understand” a national dip in Pharmacy First referrals from GPs in the summer, C+D has learned.

More from Coronavirus

COVID-19 vaccination fees stagnate despite negotiator pleas

 
• By 

Confirmation of the unchanging fees comes as NHS England (NHSE) has asked pharmacies to prepare for the autumn flu and COVID-19 vaccination programmes to start in October, or September for pregnant women.  

exclusive

Novavax COVID jab delivered by indie pharmacy in UK first

 
• By 

The new private COVID-19 vaccine, manufactured by Novavax and delivered for the first time in the UK by an independent pharmacy, is almost half the price of the Pfizer jab offered by Boots.