Budget airline Ryanair has declared its mask wearing policy will remain in place after “Freedom Day” despite an expected announcement from Boris Johnson at a press conference today that wearing face coverings will be optional on public transport after 19 July.
The carrier has become one of the first transport businesses to state that face coverings must be required onboard all flights even after the national mandate lifts, as transport chiefs and unions raised concerns that inconsistent messaging on masks will put people off from travelling on buses and trains and cause unnecessary confusion.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham urged the Government to retain the requirement to wear a face covering in “locations where people don’t have a choice to go”, such as public transport and supermarkets.
But he told BBC Radio 4’s World At One that he would not make them mandatory on Manchester’s tram network as “I just don’t think it would work”.
“If the Government comes up with a national ruling I just don’t see how we would be able to enforce it at our level,” he said.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s office has pointed to mask wearing as a way of giving people confidence to travel to the capital. A spokeswoman for Mr Khan said it is important to follow the science around the extent to which face coverings limit transmisson on public transport and in busy indoor spaces.
“Evidence shows that the wearing of face masks gives many Londoners the confidence that they can travel safely on public transport,” she added.
“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.”
Mick Lynch, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), told i that the issue of face mask wearing “should not be bounced to the industry by Government” and warned of the danger of a “free for all” in two weeks unless there is proper discussion with the industry and unions.
“All the indications are that the Government are going for a free-for-all, whereas common sense and medical advice seems to indicate that some level of control should remain in place in the public realm,” he said.
However, the UK Bus and Coach industry representative, CPT, warned that a lack of consistency around face masks will discourage people from using public transport if they are urged to still wear face coverings on buses and coaches.
A spokesperson said: “It is vital that not only regulations but guidance on face coverings is eased across society at the same pace.
“A lack of consistency where public transport is singled out as an activity where a face covering remains recommended will cause confusion amongst passengers.
“They will find it difficult to understand why they can undertake a wide range of activities with no restrictions but are encouraged to wear a face covering on the bus or coach.
“It will discourage people from travelling to work, to the shops or for a day out, making it harder for local economies to bounce back and result in more car journeys increasing carbon emissions, creating poorer air quality and place further strain on local road networks.”
Industry body the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) has pledged to support passengers who continue to wear masks if they become voluntary, but has demanded that any relaxation on the use of masks indoors should also apply to trains.
“Trains should be treated consistently with other indoor settings when it comes to the removal or on-going use of restrictions.” an RDG spokesperson said.
“Travelling by train is low risk and carriages are well ventilated with air regularly refreshed either by air conditioning systems, or by doors and windows being opened, so any decision to leave public transport behind other parts of the economy would need to be based on the science.”
The spokesperson added that train companies will continue with extra cleaning and “given that wearing a mask helps protect others”, they will support those who wish to continue wearing one.
David Lawrie, director of the National Private Hire and Taxi Association, told i that they were involved in a meeting with the Department for Transport and have made it clear that if face masks are to be retained on public transport, that also needs to include taxis and private hire vehicles.
“Taxis and private hire vehicles are more confined spaces so if masks are retained on public transport, they need to be included.
“If the Government does relax the rules around face masks, it will be up to the discretion of the driver if he wants the passenger to wear a mask.”
However, he added that this could lead to issues as it is unclear what will happen if the rules change: “At the moment, if a passenger does not wear a mask or have proof of why they don’t have to wear one, the taxi driver is entitled to refuse the fare.
“But currently, it is unclear what will happen if the rules around face masks are relaxed.”
A number of businesses contacted by i said they would wait for the Prime Minister to outline the roadmap for lifting social distancing measures this evening before drawing up mask-wearing guidelines.
However, it signals that companies will likely establish their own rules around social distancing requirements, after almost a year of masks being mandatory in certain settings across England.
A spokesperson for John Lewis Partnership, the largest employee-owned business in the UK, said it would “work to understand any implications” of Mr Johnson’s announcement this evening.
“The safety of our customers and Partners will continue to be our absolute priority,” they added.
Trade union Unite, which represents tens of thousands of public transport workers, is calling for face coverings to remain mandatory on public transport.
The union’s national officer for passenger transport Bobby Morton said: “Rates of infection are continuing to increase and not only does mask-wearing reduce transmissions, it helps provide reassurance to drivers and to passengers who are nervous about using public transport.
“The idea of personal responsibility and hoping that people will wear masks is absolutely ridiculous.”
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