Coronavirus restrictions may be easing on Monday but face coverings will remain compulsory on London transport, the Mayor Of London has announced.
On July 19 – what is being dubbed Freedom Day – all social distancing measures and legal limits on social contact will be scrapped, including the legal requirement to wear face masks on public transport. Instead, the government are “expecting” and “recommending” people wear face masks in crowded areas.
However, London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan has said he is not prepared to put Londoner’s at risk and is making mask wearing a condition of carriage for the Tube, bus, tram, DLR, Overground and TfL Rail. Those without masks on London’s transport network will be denied travel.
“I’ve repeatedly made clear that the simplest and safest option would have been for the government to retain the national requirement for face coverings on public transport,” Mr Khan said.
“I’m not prepared to stand by and put Londoners, and our city’s recovery, at risk. This is why, after careful consideration, I have decided to ask TfL to retain the requirement for passengers to wear a face covering on all TfL services when the national regulations change.”
He added: “I’m sure Londoners will continue to do the right thing as they have done throughout the pandemic, and continue to wear a face covering on TfL services.”
News of the mandatory mask wearing on TfL beyond July 19 comes days after Boris Johnson confirmed ‘Freedom Day’ will go ahead as planned next week, permitting the re-opening of clubs and live events without any limits on attendance or social distancing requirements.
[Image by Matthew Troke via Shuttestock]