MANY Brits finally ditched their face masks to celebrate Freedom Day today – but cautious commuters are still wearing them on trains.
Under today’s lockdown lifting, the protective gear is no longer required by law but caution is advised in crowded places.
There was a mixture of commuters wearing and not wearing face masks today
The rules have been relaxed but transport services are asking passengers to continue wearing them
It is also still compulsory to wear them on Transport for London services after Sadiq Khan said he didn’t want passengers put “at risk”.
Despite this, many commuters across the country were pictured ditching the mask as they made their way into work.
It comes as…
- ‘Freedom Day’ sees social distancing end and laws on masks scrapped
- Boris Johnson is under pressure to tackle the country’s ‘pingdemic‘
- The PM made a u-turn after saying he wouldn’t self-isolate
- NHS staff who are vaccinated can carry on working if they are ‘pinged‘
- Children will reportedly be offered the vaccine later this year
There appeared to be more people choosing not to wear the kit on public transport than in previous months during the pandemic.
But there was a clear divide – with the majority of passengers choosing to still wear a mask even though it is no longer required by the law.
Brits were also pictured at shopping centres and leaving a Greggs today without face coverings.
Shoppers go maskless in Lakeside
While some shoppers kept their masks, others went without
It’s now up to individual businesses as to whether their customers wear masks
A woman leaves Greggs in Bradford without a mask
Brits not longer have to wear the coverings in shops
The government announced masks will still be encouraged on public transport but will no longer be mandatory after Freedom Day.
Businesses and travel operators can make their own rules – but without the hefty fines to enforce the measures.
Many have opted to keep the rule in place – including in supermarkets such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Aldi.
Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest updates
Other high street shops such as Waterstones, John Lewis, Argos and B&Q are also “encouraging” customers to mask up.
Transport for London has confirmed fines won’t be issued for those not wearing a mask but passengers could be removed from its services.
Manchester’s Metrolink tram service is also telling passengers and staff to wear masks.
Sadiq Khan wears a face mask on the Tube today
TfL still wants passengers wearing masks
A Tube carriage full of covered-up commuters today
Most passengers were also wearing masks in Manchester
And Uber confirmed at the weekend its ‘No Mask, No Ride’ policy remains in place.
Today marks Freedom Day – the day where social distancing and working from home are scrapped.
Boris Johnson has begged the public for a “cautious” end to lockdown amid the “extremely contagious Delta variant.”
He said: “We’ve got to do it cautiously. We’ve got to remember that this virus is sadly still out there.
“Cases are rising, we can see the extreme contagiousness of the Delta variant.
“But we have this immense satisfaction that the vaccine programme has very severely weakened the link between infection and hospitalisation, and between infection and serious illness and death.
“So please, please, please be cautious and go forward tomorrow into the next step with all the right prudence and respect for other people.
“And above all, please, please, please, when you’re asked to get that second jab, get the jab, please come forward and do it.”
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