The Prime Minister is expected to announce the decision on the future of masks at 17:00 BST on July 5.
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There is opposition to the expectation the Prime Minister will announce that face coverings will become personal responsibility as opposed to a legal requirement when we reach the fourth stage of the roadmap, expected July 19.
The union Unite, who represent many public transport workers, have claimed that face coverings should stay as compulsory on public transport even after the end of the roadmap out of lockdown.
The union said it would be “gross negligence” to end the mandatory requirement to wear masks.
They say that mask wearing helps to reassure drivers and passengers who are nervous about using public transport.
Unite are joined in this sentiment by fellow union the TUC and also the London Mayoral Office.
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: “Evidence shows that the wearing of face masks gives many Londoners the confidence that they can travel safely on public transport. People feeling confident they can travel on our tubes, buses and trains as they get busier will be a vital part of encouraging more people into Central London as restrictions are lifted further, and it is something that we will continue to look at closely.”
Away from unions and mayoral offices, medical bodies are also opposing the move.
The British Medical Association has said face coverings in certain settings should stay in place as it warns the number of people admitted to hospitals in England with Covid-19 had risen by 55% in a week.
The BMA Chairperson, Dr Chaand Nagpaul, says the jump in cases to levels last seen in January, is alarming and it would make no sense to remove all restrictions in two weeks time.
Announcement due from PM
This opposition comes as the Prime Minister is expected to announce that face masks become a matter of personal responsibility and not a legal requirement when we reach the fourth stage of the roadmap.
Speaking on Sky news yesterday, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said that he “trusted people to make good judgement” when it came to the decision to wear a mask going forward from the fourth stage.
This sentiment was echoed by Junior Health Minister, Helen Whately, who said she was looking forward to not having to wear a mask. However the Health Minister did add she would still use one when necessary, for example on a crowded train commute.
She added the dropping of mask wearing is warranted due to the link between cases and hospitalisations and deaths being broken due to the NHS vaccination programme.
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HeadlineOpposition to face coverings becoming ‘personal responsibility’
Short HeadlineOpposition to masks becoming 'personal responsibility'
StandfirstUnions and medical bodies oppose the move to make face coverings optional in the final stage of the roadmap
There is opposition to the expectation the Prime Minister will announce that face coverings will become personal responsibility as opposed to a legal requirement when we reach the fourth stage of the roadmap, expected July 19.
The union Unite, who represent many public transport workers, have claimed that face coverings should stay as compulsory on public transport even after the end of the roadmap out of lockdown.
The union said it would be “gross negligence” to end the mandatory requirement to wear masks.
They say that mask wearing helps to reassure drivers and passengers who are nervous about using public transport.
Unite are joined in this sentiment by fellow union the TUC and also the London Mayoral Office.
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: “Evidence shows that the wearing of face masks gives many Londoners the confidence that they can travel safely on public transport. People feeling confident they can travel on our tubes, buses and trains as they get busier will be a vital part of encouraging more people into Central London as restrictions are lifted further, and it is something that we will continue to look at closely.”
Away from unions and mayoral offices, medical bodies are also opposing the move.
The British Medical Association has said face coverings in certain settings should stay in place as it warns the number of people admitted to hospitals in England with Covid-19 had risen by 55% in a week.
The BMA Chairperson, Dr Chaand Nagpaul, says the jump in cases to levels last seen in January, is alarming and it would make no sense to remove all restrictions in two weeks time.
Announcement due from PM
This opposition comes as the Prime Minister is expected to announce that face masks become a matter of personal responsibility and not a legal requirement when we reach the fourth stage of the roadmap.
Speaking on Sky news yesterday, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said that he “trusted people to make good judgement” when it came to the decision to wear a mask going forward from the fourth stage.
This sentiment was echoed by Junior Health Minister, Helen Whately, who said she was looking forward to not having to wear a mask. However the Health Minister did add she would still use one when necessary, for example on a crowded train commute.
She added the dropping of mask wearing is warranted due to the link between cases and hospitalisations and deaths being broken due to the NHS vaccination programme.
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