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Coverings are mandatory in enclosed public spaces such as supermarkets, indoor shopping centres, transport hubs, banks and takeaways.

Police can hand out fines of up to £100 to those who do not comply.

But some retailers have insisted they will not enforce the rule.

The deaths of another 123 people in the UK who have tested positive for Covid-19 been announced, taking the number to have died to 45,677. There were also a further 770 cases confirmed through testing.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the government’s ability to ease social-distancing measures and face-mask rules depended on it being able to drive down the level of the virus.

“The message is – we have done very well, the virus is under control to a very large extent but it is still there,” he said during a visit to a GP surgery.

He said he believed the UK would be “well past” coronavirus by the middle of next year, saying: “We have tough times ahead in coming through economically, but I have absolutely no doubt that we are going to, and this country is going to bounce back stronger than ever before.”

Costa Coffee said their staff would not challenge customers who entered their stores without masks.

Sainsbury’s also said that staff members would not be individually responsible for challenging customers – but added that stores would have regular Tannoy announcements asking customers to follow the new rules.

Asda said enforcement was the “responsibility of the relevant authorities”.

Waitrose has positioned staff at shop doors reminding customers of the rule, and Tesco is selling face coverings at store entrances.-BBC