Supermarket companies have updated shoppers on the rules regarding the wearing of face masks in their stores.

Last month, a new law was introduced in England on Friday, July 24 meaning that face masks should be worn in shops and supermarkets.

Anyone who fails to adhere to the new rules will face a £100 fine, which can be reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days.

But under the new measures introduced last week by the PM, this amount will double for subsequent offences up to a maximum of £3,200.

Here's everything you need to know.

What have Aldi said?

Denbighshire Free Press:

In an update on Aldi's website, it reads: "In accordance with the recent government announcements, from July 10 in Scotland and July 24 in England, it will be mandatory for all customers (with certain exceptions) shopping in our stores to wear a face covering for the duration of their visit.

"We thank you for your cooperation."

A number of safety measures at Aldi include:

• A traffic light system at store entrances to accurately manage the number of people in stores at any one time

• Protective screens at all 7,000 of our checkouts

• Social distancing markers in store

• NHS, blue light and vulnerable priority access hour

• Clear signs throughout stores that advise customers on how to shop safely, in line with the latest Government guidance

• Contactless payments increased to £45 Mr Hurley said Aldi is doing everything they can to keep shoppers safe, and has urged customers to maintain a safe distance from others, shop by themselves where possible and try to use contactless payments.

What have Sainsbury's said?

Denbighshire Free Press:

Sainsbury's has said it won't challenge customers who aren't wearing a mask in stores.

In a statement via Twitter, Sainsbury's tweeted: "We won’t be challenging customers without a mask when they enter or when they are in store since they may have a reason not to wear a mask."

On their website, Sainsbury's added: "Please follow official guidelines for your local area and wear a face covering when shopping in our stores in England and Scotland.

"We are still giving our customers who are vulnerable priority access to our online home delivery service.

"We’ve increased the number of home delivery and click and collect slots available and have now nearly doubled this service to over 650,000 orders per week. As a result, more of our existing customers now have access to slots.

"We are now able to let new customers register online for home delivery and click and collect slots.

"For vulnerable customers who have been offered a slot and are unable to place their order online, we are offering a telephone ordering service and we now have five times the number of colleagues on hand to help with this.

"To reduce queuing times both inside and outside our stores we have extended many of our stores opening hours.

"Customers are now welcome to shop with us at any time during store opening hours, however NHS and care workers will still have priority entry from 7:30am to 8am Monday to Saturday and elderly, vulnerable and disabled customers will still have priority entry from 8am to 9am Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

"We have launched a Volunteer Shopping Card to enable people to shop for others easily in store.

"We have also rolled out new customer sanitiser stations in our supermarkets so that customers can sanitise their hands, baskets and trollies at the front of our stores. This is in addition to our colleagues regularly sanitising all of our baskets and trollies before use.

"We have installed perspex safety screens in our petrol filling station stores and have extended our opening hours in many Convenience stores to 10pm or 11pm. You can check the latest opening hours in your area before shopping.
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"We continue to support our colleagues who are self-isolating and are considered vulnerable. This includes our colleagues who live with extremely vulnerable family members who the government has asked to shield for 12 weeks."

What have Tesco said?

Denbighshire Free Press:

The supermarket chain took to Twitter to update shoppers on whether staff would challenge customers for not wearing a mask.

In a tweet, Tesco said: "Our colleagues shouldn't be challenging or refuse entry to customers visiting our stores without a facemask."

Tesco's website states: "From 24 July, you’ll need to wear a face covering in-store."

What have Waitrose said?

Denbighshire Free Press:

The chain have taken to Twitter to share an update with customers.

They tweeted: "We will not refuse entry to customers with exemptions in line with government guidance."

On Waitrose's website, it states: "We have asked the public who come into our shops to wear face coverings."

What have Lidl said?

Denbighshire Free Press:

Lidl have said they won't challenge customers if they don't wear a face mask.

The chain confirmed this via their official Lidl GB account.

They tweeted: "Wearing a face covering is the responsibility of the individual and should only be enforced by Police and council enforcement officers.

"The government have stipulated that shop workers should not refuse entry to customers that are not wearing a face covering."

What have the Co-op said?

Denbighshire Free Press:

In a tweet from the Co-op UK account, the supermarket said: "The health and safety of Co-op colleagues, customers and members is our priority.

"In line with new laws set out by the Government, it will be mandatory to wear a face covering to cover the nose and mouth when shopping in Co-op stores in England from 24th July.

"This will be clearly communicated through store signage but we’d like to reiterate to all non-exempt customers that it is their responsibility to ensure they are in adherence with the new legal requirements."

What have Iceland said?

Denbighshire Free Press:

The boss of supermarket chain Iceland has confirmed that staff won't challenge shoppers if they don't wear a face mask.

Richard Walker, CEO of Iceland, said: "If mandatory face masks in shops will make our customers and colleagues safer then they are welcome - but we won't put our staff at risk by asking them to police this.

"The UK cannot afford a second wave, so we all need to play our part and show care and consideration for each other."

What have Asda said?

Denbighshire Free Press:

Asda has clarified the rules on wearing face masks in stores following a complaint from a shopper.

The chain issued a statement when a customer said many shoppers were not wearing masks.

Asda said they are doing all they can to remind customers to follow the rules but it is up to police to enforce them.

A spokesman said: "We are strongly encouraging all customers to wear a face covering when they visit our stores.

"We also have signs at the entrance to the store and on the shelf edges to encourage customers to wear a face covering and are using Asda FM (our in-store radio) to further remind customers.

"While we will do all we can to strongly encourage customers to respect the new guidelines, the responsibility for policing and enforcing them does lie with the relevant authorities."

What have Marks and Spencer (M&S) said?

Denbighshire Free Press:

In an update to shoppers on face coverings, M&S said on its website: "From August 10, it became mandatory for customers in Northern Ireland to wear face coverings in shops, as is already the case in England and Scotland, (with the exception of young children or people with certain health conditions).

"Where it is mandatory we would ask all customers to follow this, unless they have a health condition that exempts them.

"Where government guidance is that M&S colleagues should wear face coverings (for example in Scotland), they will do so.

"As with customers, the government has made exceptions for some colleagues. The government has said it is not compulsory for colleagues to wear face coverings in England, Northern Ireland or Wales – however, we have encouraged them to do so.

"At the moment, there is no government requirement to face coverings in shops in Wales, but they are of course welcome to do so if they would like to.

"In line with government guidance, it will not be mandatory to wear your face covering when eating in our M&S cafés. Of course, all customers are welcome to wear them."