Covid rule changes today: All the places you're still asked to wear a mask in England - The Mirror

Plan B measures have been ditched as of today - with face masks no longer a legal requirement in England. But there are still some places where you are urged to wear them

Covid plan B measures have ended today which means face masks are no longer legally required indoors.

People can also ditch their NHS Covid passes as the legal requirement for them to enable people to get access to nightclubs or large venues has been scrapped.

Boris Johnson announced plans to drop the Covid restrictions last week as part of Downing Street's 'Operation Red Meat'.

The Prime Minister was accused of "removing public health protections in the hope of saving his own skin".

But while masks are no longer a legal requirement in England, there are still some settings where they are recommended.

Here's a round-up of the latest guidance from the government.

Are face masks on public transport required?

From today, people will not need to wear face masks anywhere in England if they don't want to.

The legal requirement to wear a face covering unless exempt has been scrapped indoors, at schools and largely on public transport.

But Londoners need to keep wearing them when using Transport for London services.

While mayor Sadiq Khan's demands are not enforceable by police and do not carry a fine, face masks will remain a "condition of carriage" on TfL services. That means you can be refused admission to a Tube or bus without one.

Mr Khan urged the PM to rethink scrapping face masks altogether. He said: "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 and the Government should rethink their plans."

What about face masks in supermarkets?

Some supermarkets will continue to either ask or suggest that shoppers wear a mask.

Sainsbury’s and John Lewis said their customers will be asked to wear masks, though the latter acknowledged it will ultimately come down to “personal choice”.

A spokeswoman for Sainsbury’s said: “Safety remains our highest priority.

"From Thursday, we’re asking our customers and colleagues in England to continue to wear a face covering in our stores if they are able to.”

Downing Street said Boris Johnson would “exercise his judgment” on whether to wear a mask.

What about face masks in health settings?

It is no longer a hard legal requirement to wear a face mask in a GP surgery, for example.

But the government warned: "Infection prevention control guidance continues to require face coverings be worn in health and care settings, including primary care and pharmacies."

What about face masks in schools?

Face masks in England's classrooms were scrapped last week, and masks in communal areas of schools are axed from today.

Local directors of public health will in future be able to recommend face coverings in communal areas if there is a local surge.

But that will only be temporarily if it's judged to be "proportionate" by the Department for Education.

Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi has signalled he plans to keep a tight leash on the use of these powers.

What about in all other settings?

The guidance for England will revert to what it was in Plan A.

"It is suggested that people wear face coverings in crowded and enclosed spaces where they might come into contact with people they do not normally meet."

This can obviously cover a huge range of venues from shops to even nightclubs - but it's at your discretion when and how to follow it.

What other measures have been dropped?

Working from home guidance was dropped last week.

Tory ministers repeatedly emphasised how much worth they place on going into offices in person.

The legal requirement for Covid passes have been dropped.

The Government said organisations will be able to choose whether to require NHS Covid passes from Thursday.

Why? Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: “Our vaccines, testing and antivirals ensure we have some of the strongest defences in Europe and are allowing us to cautiously return to Plan A, restoring more freedoms to this country.

“As we learn to live with Covid we need to be clear eyed that this virus is not going away so if you haven’t already – please come forward for your first, second or booster jab.”

Covid infections have continued to fall across much of the UK, even though levels are still higher than before Christmas.

Official Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show England, Scotland and Wales all saw a drop last week in the number of people believed to have Covid.

An estimated one in 20 people in England are likely to have had Covid-19 in the week to January 22, or 2.6 million people, down from 3.0 million the previous week.