PM’s seal or not, Transport for London’s policy isn’t changing
People commuting across London will still have to wear face masks on the tube despite most social distancing guidelines and covid restrictions being dropped next week.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the Plan B measures would be phased out on January 27 during Wednesday’s PMQs – however mayor Sadiq Khan has reiterated that that face coverings will still be considered compulsory across all Transport for London services.
If we've learnt anything from this pandemic, it's that we must not get complacent and undo all our hard work and sacrifices.
Face masks will remain a condition of carriage on @TfL services. #WearAMask 😷https://t.co/Pbz3h94SEG
— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) January 19, 2022
Speaking to the BBC, Khan said: “I’m asking everyone in our capital to do the right thing and continue to wear a face-covering when travelling on TfL services to keep us all protected and to prevent further restrictions from being necessary later down the line.”
With an estimated 30 per cent of Londoners still unvaccinated are others still waiting for second and/or booster jabs, the spread of Omicron is still of great concern despite cases once dropping and restrictions once again being rolled back. It has also been announced that self-isolation rules could be eliminated as soon as March as well.
"There will soon come a time when we can remove the legal requirement to self-isolate altogether, just as we don't place legal obligations on people to isolate if they have flu." https://t.co/99iTDvt0JS
— PoliticsJOE (@PoliticsJOE_UK) January 19, 2022
Regardless, the capital’s mayor went on to assert that “wearing a face covering is one of the single most important and easiest things we can all do to prevent the spread of Covid-19”, adding that “the government should rethink their plans and keep legislation in place to make them mandatory on public transport as well as in shops and indoor public venues.”
Like TfL, it is thought that local transport networks such as Transport for Greater Manchester‘s buses and Metrolink tram service will also keep their mask mandate despite changes to government guidance.
Whether it’s face masks on the tube or self-isolation, Khan made sure to remind London and the general public that “sadly, this is not the end of our fight against the virus.”
Related links:
- Nearly two-thirds of covid jab side effects could be placebo, study finds
- Sue Gray finds email showing staff knew Downing Street parties breached lockdown guidance
- Five False claims made by Boris Johnson during Prime Minister’s Questions
