Not everyone can wear a face covering, but everyone can help reduce the anxiety around mask exemption.

As the wearing of face coverings in public places remains mandatory, it is important that we continue to provide awareness and clarity around mask exemption for people who would have difficulty with wearing a face covering. 

In conjunction with the guidelines set out by the Government, the Access Card Team has introduced a new ‘mask’ symbol that can be added to your Access Card to show you have a legitimate and verified reason for exemption. 

We appreciate that current Access Card Holders may not have had this option at the time that they originally applied for their Access Cards, and therefore, current Access Card Holders can request for the symbol to be added onto their cards by requesting a review of their application or providing further evidence from a medical professional stating that an exemption is required. This can be submitted, along with a standard £5 reprint fee, here.

We will be looking to clarify the following two points in the Government guidance around exemptions:

• if you have a physical or mental illness or impairment, or a disability that means you cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering
• if putting on, wearing or removing a face covering would cause you severe distress

For all new Access Card applications please submit the additional evidence as part of the application and explain the issues with wearing a mask in the ‘Anything Else’ section.

For more information, please click here. 

Advice and support during this pandemic can be found here.

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Apply for your Access Card today!

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