Cover Your Face On Buses And Trains...Or Get A Fine

Face coverings will be compulsory on public transport from the middle of this month to try to curb the spread of coronavirus, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced yesterday.

- Macer Hall

Travellers could be banned from boarding trains, buses, trams, ferries and aircraft without their mouths covered.

Anyone who refuses to comply could be hit with a fine.

Mr Shapps said the measure was coming in to force as many more people are expected to start commuting again as non-essential shops and other businesses are permitted to reopen from June 15.

He said the draconian rule was initially being announced to cover only England but added that ministers were working with the leaders of the devolved assemblies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to try to expand the order throughout the UK.

Transport union leaders welcomed the move last night but accused the Government of risking a dangerous surge of passengers on the network by easing lockdown too early. And some campaigners said the mandatory face-covering rule should be extended to other public places including shops.