Do you have to wear a face mask in England? Yes, no, maybe
- UK government accused of sowing coronavirus confusion about when and where people should wear masks
- PM Boris Johnson is expected to confirm that mandatory curbs will end as planned on July 19
The UK government was set to issue guidance that people were “expected to” continue wearing masks in indoor, enclosed spaces even after coronavirus restrictions are lifted in England on July 19.
Although face coverings would no longer be mandatory in any setting, there will be an expectation for people “to wear masks indoors, in crowded places, on public transport,” Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi told BBC TV on Sunday.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid also ratcheted up the pressure, telling The Sunday Telegraph that people who didn’t wear masks in such settings were “just being irresponsible, they’re not playing their role as a responsible citizen”.
It was a change in tone from last week, when Prime Minister Boris Johnson told a news conference that guidance would only “suggest where you might choose” to wear a mask, and signalled that it was fine to remove them “late at night in a virtually empty carriage on the main railway line”.
Johnson plans a major speech this week ahead of what’s been dubbed “Freedom Day”. He will vow to tackle the social divisions heightened by 16 months of pandemic-related restrictions and pledge to create a more balanced economy.