Khan predicts face coverings for a year
Police hand out thousands of free face coverings to commuters as legislation comes into force
Face coverings will become “the new normal” for at least a year, Sadiq Khan has suggested, after masks became compulsory on public transport for the first time. Thousands of free masks were handed out to travellers on buses and trains yesterday. “This is part of the new normal,” the Mayor of London told LBC radio. “The reality is that for the foreseeable future – I predict for the next year or so – wearing face coverings is going to become the norm rather than the exception.”
WEARING face coverings will become “the new normal” for at least a year, the Mayor of London has suggested after masks became compulsory on public transport for the first time.
Sadiq Khan said face coverings would be “the norm rather than the exception” as the country gradually emerges from lockdown.
Thousands of free masks were handed out to travellers on buses and trains yesterday amid confusion over how the new law will be enforced.
“This is part of the new normal,” Mr Khan told LBC radio. “The reality is that for the foreseeable future – I predict for the next year or so – wearing face coverings is going to become the norm rather than the exception.”
The regulation means passengers on the Tube, buses, trains and planes must wear a face covering or risk being hit with a £100 fine.
About 3,000 extra police and staff were deployed across England’s public transport network yesterday to enforce the rules.
Mr Khan said around 90 per cent of travellers had complied on the first day, adding that the authorities would initially favour a light-touch approach.
“We’ve asked TFL staff, our staff, British Transport Police not to go straight towards fines and enforcement but to begin with encouragement,” he said.
Police officers handed out thousands of masks to people attempting to travel without one.
Some passengers, however, were pictured wearing their face masks on their foreheads or below their chin, while others simply refused to wear the free coverings. Senior transport sources warned that enforcement would come “at a later date” if rulebreaking became widespread.
Transport operators also warned of “confusion” over who is exempt from the rule. Industry sources said the wording of the law “could be interpreted very broadly”, creating confusion over how to police non-compliance.
Groups of travellers listed in the legislation as having a reasonable excuse not to wear a mask include children under 11, those unable to wear a mask “without severe distress” because of mental illness or disability, and those travelling with someone who relies on lip reading.
Graham Vidler, the chief executive of the Confederation of Passenger Transport, said the exemptions could cause “difficulties” among passengers.
Mr Vidler told the BBC that bus companies were looking to introduce a “journey assistance card”, which will allow passengers with a hidden disability to signal to the driver that they do not need to wear a mask.
“If passengers aren’t following the guidelines then other passengers might have difficulties with that and issues might arise,” he said.
“That’s another reason we are encouraging people to use journey assistance cards to indicate that they have a valid reason for not wearing a face covering. Ultimately, though, we continue to be dependent on the good sense and public spiritedness of our passengers.”
One bus driver, who gave his name as Simon, said he and his colleagues were “worried” about the introduction of the policy.
“We have had no clear guidance except that if someone gives a legitimate reason not to wear a mask we shouldn’t refuse them,” he said. “This is vague and open for exploitation.”
Meanwhile, a study found that even basic face masks made from an old T-shirt can help reduce the spread of Covid-19 by up to 90 per cent.
Scientists at the University of Cambridge called for information campaigns that encouraged people to make and wear their own face masks, to dramatically reduce coronavirus transmission rates.
In all modelling scenarios, routine face mask use by 50 per cent or more of the population – even if the mask is just crudely made from a cotton T-shirt or dishcloth – reduced Covid-19 spread to an R value less than one.
The researchers want information campaigns across the world that appeal to people’s altruistic side – with the message: “My face mask protects you, your face mask protects me.”
Prof John Colvin, from the University of Greenwich, who is a co-author of the study, said: “There is a common perception that wearing a face mask means you consider others a danger.
“In fact, by wearing a mask you are primarily protecting others from yourself. Cultural and even political issues may stop people wearing face masks, so the message needs to be clear: my mask protects you, your mask protects me.”
The Government has said people should avoid public transport where possible and consider cycling or walking to work if they can.
People are expected to comply with the rules voluntarily, a Downing Street spokesman said.