The Government has once again told people in England to wear face coverings in shops and on public transport in the wake of the Omicron variant.

The new requirement, which came into motion on Tuesday, seems to have gone down well in Sheffield, as our reporter asked people in the city what they think about the new rules.

These rules are a precautionary measure, in place while more information about the new variant is gathered and examined, for example the effectiveness of vaccines against it and the transmissibility rate.

However, masks aren’t required in:

• Pubs
• Cafes
• Restaurants

What are the penalties?

There is a penalty of £200 for the first offence, but this can rise to £400 for the second, and £800 for the third. There is a maximum fine of £6,400.

Any person with a suspected infection of the Omicron variant needs to self-isolate, even if they are vaccinated.