How to wear a face covering

A face covering should:

cover your nose and mouth while allowing you to breathe comfortably
fit comfortably but securely against the side of the face
be secured to the head with ties or ear loops
be made of a material that you find to be comfortable and breathable, such as cotton
ideally include at least two layers of fabric (the World Health Organization recommends three depending on the fabric used)
unless disposable, be able to be washed with other items of laundry according to fabric washing instructions and dried without causing the face covering to be damaged

wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser before putting a face covering on
avoid wearing on your neck or forehead
avoid touching the part of the face covering in contact with your mouth and nose, as it could be contaminated with the virus
change the face covering if it becomes damp or if you’ve touched it
avoid taking it off and putting it back on a lot in quick succession (for example, when leaving and entering shops on a high street)

first wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser
only handle the straps, ties or clips
do not give it to someone else to use
if single-use, dispose of it carefully in a residual waste bin and do not recycle
if reusable, wash it in line with manufacturer’s instructions at the highest temperature for the fabric
wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser once removed