Agents Offices: mandatory face masks, no TVs or music in Scotland

Estate agents’ offices have been explicitly mentioned by the Scottish Government as locations where face masks must now be worn by law.

The statement from the SNP administration says that “any premises open to members of the public and used for the retail sale or hire of goods or services” will have the compulsory wearing of face masks. 

In addition the note says ”there should be no background music and TVs should be muted to reduce the need for people to shout or lean in to each other, and no more than three households at a time should be meeting in a group” at such locations including agency branches.

Nicola Sturgeon, first minister, says: “We’ve seen – every day of this outbreak – how easily COVID-19 can spread. We need to do everything we can to stop it in its tracks and that is why we are expanding the mandatory use of face coverings in more indoor public spaces.”

She continues: “Many of these measures should already be in place as part of the guidance, but in order to keep the sector open – safely – we are now placing them in law. We are the frontline in making sure that Covid doesn’t spread, and so we all need to keep doing the right things.”

The Scottish administration is also published a COVID-19 Workbook - a one-stop-shop for advice on how that country’s local and national public health agencies will provide support to prevent virus spread - plus ‘Sector Advice Cards’ that details how different sectors can take action to prevent the spread of the virus, avoid outbreaks, reporting and helping to manage outbreaks.