Today, Tuesday, November 30, sees face coverings again become compulsory on public transport and in shops as part of precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the new Covid-19 Omicron variant in the UK.
Face coverings are now also compulsory in shops and other settings such as banks, post offices and hairdressers.
Take a look at these eight photos of people across Sunderland wearing facemasks.
![Mask wearers were spotted in Sunderland City Centre this morning as the start of new Covid regulations kicks in.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmI3M2QxODAxLTBlNzItNGI5ZS1iYWE1LTkzNGJhNGI2Yjg3MDpkMWU0ZjIxYy0yZjkzLTQ3MDEtYTNmYS1mNTg4M2Y3NGVlZTA=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
1. Sunderland City Centre
Mask wearers were spotted in Sunderland City Centre this morning as the start of new Covid regulations kicks in. Photo: Kevin Brady
![Everyone must now wear a mask on public transport and inside shops.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjI5M2JjNzUxLWRlZWMtNGM2Mi1hNmE1LWMzMTVhNjBjYjU3MDo4ZDM1OTkwOC1kMTlhLTQ5MGYtOTBmMi0wMTdjYzAxNDVmODU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
2. New rules
Everyone must now wear a mask on public transport and inside shops. Photo: Kevin Brady
![People in Sunderland City Centre were wearing face coverings around shops.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjZjZTZhMTdlLWMwNGUtNDhkZC1hY2EwLTVlNDk3NzhkNDAxYjpkOTVlYjgxNy02YmNjLTQ5N2ItOGY1MS00ZjFlZmIwNjdhMDE=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
3. Compulsory
People in Sunderland City Centre were wearing face coverings around shops. Photo: Kevin Brady
![The measures are to prevent the spread of the new Covid-19 Omicron variant in the UK.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjgxYjk5M2ExLTYzZjAtNDkwMi05NzY4LTYxNWEzODNhYWE1NDoyMDY2ZWZhMS1hNzcyLTQ2ZjMtYWZkZS03ZWZiMzllMDM4NzI=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
4. Covid regulations
The measures are to prevent the spread of the new Covid-19 Omicron variant in the UK. Photo: Kevin Brady