No mask, no ride! Police block passengers without face-coverings while others risk £100 fines by flouting new Covid rules in force on the Tubes, trains and buses in England today
- New rules come into place today for passengers on all public transport, including trains, planes and buses
- Thousands of extra staff, including police officers, are being bought in to enforce the government's new rule
- It comes as coronavirus lockdown measures continue to be eased, with high street shops set to open today
- How have you found the new rule - are people wearing masks? Contact: james.robinson@mailonline.co.uk
Thousands of extra police and staff have been deployed across England's public transport network today as new rules which make wearing face coverings compulsory come in to play.
The strict new law means passengers on Tubes, buses, trains and planes must wear a face covering from today or risk being turned away, or being slapped with a £100 fine.
But within hours of the rule coming in, passengers were seen attempting to enter stations without face-coverings while one man was seen with his mask pushed up onto his forehead and not over his mouth while on sittong on a Tube.
Police officers have also been seen handing out masks to those attempting to enter stations without one.
It comes as more than 3,000 extra staff, including police officers, have been brought in to enforce the rule - which applies to all passengers on trains, buses, Tubes, coaches, trams, planes or ferries. Children under the age of 11 and those with certain health conditions or disabilities are exempt.
One passenger who travelled on a tube today and saw 'everyone wearing a mask' said the measure was 'reassuring'.
The new rule comes as the government continues to strip back its draconian lockdown laws in place of looser restrictions, which included allowing people to meet with friends inside a 'social bubble' - which was brought in at the weekend.
Non-essential shops are also set to open today for the first time since March when the lockdown rules were imposed to slow the spread of coronavirus.
As Britain continued to push its way out of coronavirus lockdown:
- Queues of people were seen outside Primark in Liverpool as the fashion retailer prepared to open for the first time today since March
- Budget airline EasyJet completed its first flight since grounding its entire fleet in March after lockdown rules were introduced
- GCSE and A-Level students returned to schools - but only a quarter of Year 10 and 12 students are allowed on site due to social distancing
- Ministers looking to review the two-metre social distancing rule say it will 'take weeks' to come to a decision, as hospitality chiefs warned of mass redundancies if the measures were not changed
- Police launched an investigation yesterday after 6,000 people attended three lockdown-defying raves in the north of England on Saturday - in which one person died of a suspected drug overdose, three people were stabbed and an 18-year-old woman was raped
It also comes after the government changed its stance on the use of face masks, which they say should now be compulsory on public transport - bringing the rules in-line with the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Thousands of extra police and staff have been deployed across England's public transport network today as new rules which make wearing face coverings compulsory come in to play.
The strict new law means passengers on Tubes, buses, trains and planes must wear a face covering from today or risk being turned away, or being slapped with a £100 fine.
But within hours of the rule coming in, passengers were seen attempting to enter stations without face-coverings while one man was seen with his mask pushed up onto his forehead and not over his mouth while on sittong on a Tube.
Police officers have also been seen handing out masks to those attempting to enter stations without one.
It comes as more than 3,000 extra staff, including police officers, have been brought in to enforce the rule - which applies to all passengers on trains, buses, Tubes, coaches, trams, planes or ferries. Children under the age of 11 and those with certain health conditions or disabilities are exempt.
One passenger who travelled on a tube today and saw 'everyone wearing a mask' said the measure was 'reassuring'.
The new rule comes as the government continues to strip back its draconian lockdown laws in place of looser restrictions, which included allowing people to meet with friends inside a 'social bubble' - which was brought in at the weekend.
Non-essential shops are also set to open today for the first time since March when the lockdown rules were imposed to slow the spread of coronavirus.
As Britain continued to push its way out of coronavirus lockdown:
- Queues of people were seen outside Primark in Liverpool as the fashion retailer prepared to open for the first time today since March
- Budget airline EasyJet completed its first flight since grounding its entire fleet in March after lockdown rules were introduced
- GCSE and A-Level students returned to schools - but only a quarter of Year 10 and 12 students are allowed on site due to social distancing
- Ministers looking to review the two-metre social distancing rule say it will 'take weeks' to come to a decision, as hospitality chiefs warned of mass redundancies if the measures were not changed
- Police launched an investigation yesterday after 6,000 people attended three lockdown-defying raves in the north of England on Saturday - in which one person died of a suspected drug overdose, three people were stabbed and an 18-year-old woman was raped
It also comes after the government changed its stance on the use of face masks, which they say should now be compulsory on public transport - bringing the rules in-line with the World Health Organisation (WHO).
EasyJet takes to the skies today for the first time since March 30 with flights back at Gatwick
EasyJet took to the skies again today for the first time since its planes were grounded on March 30 - with passengers facing a raft of new coronavirus safety measures including mandatory face masks and an alcohol ban.
Pictures from the first flight this morning showed a crowded service with no room for people to observe six-feet social distancing rules, prompting some Twitter users to complain it was 'absolute madness'.
Passengers wearing face masks arrive to board a plane as EasyJet restarts it operation today
However, the airline's boss Johan Lundgren said he would feel '100% safe' due to the steps it had taken to protect customers.
The plane, from London Gatwick to Glasgow, landed just after 8am, as easyJet resumed mainly domestic routes between British and European cities. There are two foreign routes from Belfast to Faro and Gatwick to Nice.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: 'People should continue to avoid public transport wherever possible. But, as restrictions are carefully eased when it is safe to do so, it’s likely that we will see more people needing to use public transport.
'So, while respecting social distancing and maintaining good hand hygiene remain the most important steps we can all take to stay safe, wearing a face covering can play a role in helping us to protect each other.
'This is about the small changes we can take to help control the virus, which is why I urge everyone using transport to wear a face covering, to help keep us all safer.'
Today, one passenger, cleaner Dani Kostova, 42, travelled from her home in Beckton, East London to central London this morning.
Exiting out of Marble Arch tube station, wearing a surgical face mask, she said: ‘It’s a good thing that people are now being made to cover their faces on the underground.
‘You don’t know what people may have so to be extra cautious I’m in total agreement with, particularly as coronavirus seems to be going down now in London.
‘I’ve been travelling on the tube for a few weeks now and before today not everyone wore a mask. There’d be maybe 3-4 people in a carriage who weren’t covering their face.
‘This morning everyone I saw, commuters and tube staff, all had a mask on and it was very reassuring.’
The new rules only apply for passengers while in transport, rather than for those who are waiting at bus stops and stations.
They do not apply in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland - where their governments are only recommending people cover their faces on public transport.
Passengers are also encouraged to social distance and wash their hands, while the government still recommends people to work from home where possible.
The new rule comes as experts predict transport capacity to rise to 20 per cent on the railways next month.
Today EasyJet took to the skies again today for the first time since its planes were grounded on March 30 - with passengers facing a raft of new coronavirus safety measures including mandatory face masks and an alcohol ban.
It also comes after the government changed its stance on the use of face masks, which they say should now be compulsory on public transport - bringing the rules in-line with the World Health Organisation (WHO). Pictured: Passengers at Canning Town tube station wear face mask
Thousands of extra police and public transport staff have been deployed to enforce the new rule. Pictured: A Transport for London worker hands out face masks at a Tube station
Children under the age of 11 and those with certain health conditions or disabilities are exempt from the new rules. Pictured: Passengers arrive at Canning Town station in London
The strict new rules on face coverings on public transport apply to all passengers on trains, buses, Tubes, coaches, trams, planes or ferries
The new rules, which come as experts predict transport capacity to rise to 20 per cent on the railways next month, only apply while in transit, rather than while waiting
Passengers are also encouraged to social distance and wash their hands, while the government still recommends people to work from home where possible
The first flight, from London Gatwick to Glasgow, landed just after 8am, as the airline resumed mainly domestic flights between British and European cities. There are also two foreign routes from Belfast to Faro and Gatwick to Nice.
Meanwhile, on roads in London, congestion has risen once again today, up to 27 per cent this morning, compared to 21 per cent at the same time last week.
It was a similar picture in Manchester, where congestion was up by two per cent, from 12 per cent last week, and in Birmingham, where congestion jumped slightly from 11 per cent to 12 per cent today, compared to the same time last week.
All figures are significantly down from the same time last year, when the country was not in lockdown.
On roads in London, congestion has risen once again today, up to 27 per cent this morning, compared to 21 per cent at the same time last week. Pictured: Heavy traffic on the A3 in London
Meanwhile, on roads in London, congestion has risen once again today, up to 27 per cent this morning, compared to 21 per cent at the same time last week. Pictured: A TomTom graph showing traffic congestion in London
The traffic congestion in London has been rising as the country eases out of coronavirus lockdown. Pictured: A weekly look at congestion in London
London is not the only place where congestion is on the rise. Pictured: A graph showing a rise in traffic congestion in Manchester
Traffic congestion is also on the rise in the Birmingham and Wolverhampton areas of the Midlands. Pictured: A graph showing the rise
EasyJet took to the skies again today for the first time since its planes were grounded on March 30 - with passengers facing a raft of new coronavirus safety measures including mandatory face masks and an alcohol ban.
Pictures from the first flight this morning showed a crowded service with no room for people to observe six-feet social distancing rules, prompting some Twitter users to complain it was 'absolute madness'.
Passengers wearing face masks arrive to board a plane as EasyJet restarts it operation today
However, the airline's boss Johan Lundgren said he would feel '100% safe' due to the steps it had taken to protect customers.
The plane, from London Gatwick to Glasgow, landed just after 8am, as easyJet resumed mainly domestic routes between British and European cities. There are two foreign routes from Belfast to Faro and Gatwick to Nice.
It also comes after the government changed its stance on the use of face masks, which they say should now be compulsory on public transport - bringing the rules in-line with the World Health Organisation (WHO). Pictured: Passengers at Canning Town tube station wear face mask
Thousands of extra police and public transport staff have been deployed to enforce the new rule. Pictured: A Transport for London worker hands out face masks at a Tube station
Children under the age of 11 and those with certain health conditions or disabilities are exempt from the new rules. Pictured: Passengers arrive at Canning Town station in London
The strict new rules on face coverings on public transport apply to all passengers on trains, buses, Tubes, coaches, trams, planes or ferries
The new rules, which come as experts predict transport capacity to rise to 20 per cent on the railways next month, only apply while in transit, rather than while waiting
Passengers are also encouraged to social distance and wash their hands, while the government still recommends people to work from home where possible
The first flight, from London Gatwick to Glasgow, landed just after 8am, as the airline resumed mainly domestic flights between British and European cities. There are also two foreign routes from Belfast to Faro and Gatwick to Nice.
Meanwhile, on roads in London, congestion has risen once again today, up to 27 per cent this morning, compared to 21 per cent at the same time last week.
It was a similar picture in Manchester, where congestion was up by two per cent, from 12 per cent last week, and in Birmingham, where congestion jumped slightly from 11 per cent to 12 per cent today, compared to the same time last week.
All figures are significantly down from the same time last year, when the country was not in lockdown.
On roads in London, congestion has risen once again today, up to 27 per cent this morning, compared to 21 per cent at the same time last week. Pictured: Heavy traffic on the A3 in London
Meanwhile, on roads in London, congestion has risen once again today, up to 27 per cent this morning, compared to 21 per cent at the same time last week. Pictured: A TomTom graph showing traffic congestion in London
The traffic congestion in London has been rising as the country eases out of coronavirus lockdown. Pictured: A weekly look at congestion in London
London is not the only place where congestion is on the rise. Pictured: A graph showing a rise in traffic congestion in Manchester
Traffic congestion is also on the rise in the Birmingham and Wolverhampton areas of the Midlands. Pictured: A graph showing the rise
Demand for motorbikes, scooters and mopeds TRIPLES on Auto Trader as commuters switch to two-wheeled alternatives to public transport
Meanwhile maps data shows that the number of people walking, driving and using public transport has slowly risen since the lockdown was imposed in March.
Figures for people using public transport dropped to as low as -80 per cent of Apple's base figure at the end of March, but has now risen back to around -60 per cent.
The number of people walking dropped as low as -70 per cent during lockdown, but has now risen to near -20 per cent as of June 13, while the number of people cycling has also risen to a similar figure.
The national picture is reflected in London, where, on Saturday, the number of people walking has risen to -20 per cent, the number driving peaked around -30 per cent and reached near to -60 per cent.
The picture is also similar in Manchester and Birmingham, though the number of people using public transport actually fell in the Midlands city on Saturday.
Today's new public transport rule comes in as Boris Johnson urged the country to return to the high street and ‘shop with confidence’ when non-essential stores reopen today with huge price cuts.
The Prime Minister said he was ‘very optimistic’ that the lifting of restrictions would help the economy bounce back from three months of coronavirus lockdown.
Maps data from tech giant Apple shows how the number of Britons getting out and about continues to rise as coronavirus lockdown laws are loosened
The national picture is reflected in London, where, on Saturday, the number of people walking has risen to -20 per cent, the number driving peaked around -30 per cent and reached near to -60 per cent
The picture is also similar in Manchester and Birmingham, though the number of people using public transport actually fell in the Midlands city on Saturday
In Manchester, the number of people walking and driving reached -20 per cent of the baseline figure on Saturday, while the number of people using public transport has largely remained the same
Stores including Zara, John Lewis and Debenhams have slashed prices by as much as 70 per cent in a bid to lure shoppers back. Desperate fashion chains are sitting on as much as £15billion of unsold stock they are keen to shift.
Speaking during a visit to the Westfield shopping centre in east London yesterday, the PM said he hoped to see a ‘gradual’ build-up of people visiting the high street.
‘I am very optimistic about the opening up that’s going to be happening,’ he said.
‘I think people should shop and shop with confidence but they should of course observe the rules on social distancing and do it as safely as possible.’
Last night it emerged that Chancellor Rishi Sunak is considering a VAT cut to stimulate spending following concerns that social-distancing rules and anxious shoppers will keep sales figures low, The Times reports.
Furthermore, half of Britain's shoppers could avoid the high street tomorrow with four in ten spending less money than they did pre-lockdown, according to a YouGov poll for The Daily Telegraph.
Just 40 per cent said they were up for going back to clothing shops while half said they were 'uncomfortable' about it, sparking further concerns for the future of retailers who struggled to stay afloat in the coronavirus crisis.
Outlets will offer hand sanitiser stations and many will enforce infection control by quarantining unbought items for 72 hours after they have been handled.
Store martials in high-vis jackets and PPE will ensure shoppers are kept two metres apart, browsing and handling items will be discouraged and there will be a plea not to use cash. There will also be limits on the numbers allowed through the door, which means queues are likely.
Meanwhile maps data shows that the number of people walking, driving and using public transport has slowly risen since the lockdown was imposed in March.
Figures for people using public transport dropped to as low as -80 per cent of Apple's base figure at the end of March, but has now risen back to around -60 per cent.
The number of people walking dropped as low as -70 per cent during lockdown, but has now risen to near -20 per cent as of June 13, while the number of people cycling has also risen to a similar figure.
The national picture is reflected in London, where, on Saturday, the number of people walking has risen to -20 per cent, the number driving peaked around -30 per cent and reached near to -60 per cent.
The picture is also similar in Manchester and Birmingham, though the number of people using public transport actually fell in the Midlands city on Saturday.
Today's new public transport rule comes in as Boris Johnson urged the country to return to the high street and ‘shop with confidence’ when non-essential stores reopen today with huge price cuts.
The Prime Minister said he was ‘very optimistic’ that the lifting of restrictions would help the economy bounce back from three months of coronavirus lockdown.
Maps data from tech giant Apple shows how the number of Britons getting out and about continues to rise as coronavirus lockdown laws are loosened
The national picture is reflected in London, where, on Saturday, the number of people walking has risen to -20 per cent, the number driving peaked around -30 per cent and reached near to -60 per cent
The picture is also similar in Manchester and Birmingham, though the number of people using public transport actually fell in the Midlands city on Saturday
In Manchester, the number of people walking and driving reached -20 per cent of the baseline figure on Saturday, while the number of people using public transport has largely remained the same
Stores including Zara, John Lewis and Debenhams have slashed prices by as much as 70 per cent in a bid to lure shoppers back. Desperate fashion chains are sitting on as much as £15billion of unsold stock they are keen to shift.
Speaking during a visit to the Westfield shopping centre in east London yesterday, the PM said he hoped to see a ‘gradual’ build-up of people visiting the high street.
‘I am very optimistic about the opening up that’s going to be happening,’ he said.
‘I think people should shop and shop with confidence but they should of course observe the rules on social distancing and do it as safely as possible.’
Last night it emerged that Chancellor Rishi Sunak is considering a VAT cut to stimulate spending following concerns that social-distancing rules and anxious shoppers will keep sales figures low, The Times reports.
Furthermore, half of Britain's shoppers could avoid the high street tomorrow with four in ten spending less money than they did pre-lockdown, according to a YouGov poll for The Daily Telegraph.
Just 40 per cent said they were up for going back to clothing shops while half said they were 'uncomfortable' about it, sparking further concerns for the future of retailers who struggled to stay afloat in the coronavirus crisis.
Outlets will offer hand sanitiser stations and many will enforce infection control by quarantining unbought items for 72 hours after they have been handled.
Store martials in high-vis jackets and PPE will ensure shoppers are kept two metres apart, browsing and handling items will be discouraged and there will be a plea not to use cash. There will also be limits on the numbers allowed through the door, which means queues are likely.
No comments: