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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
World
Ryan Paton

All the places you could still be asked to wear a facemask from July 19

Boris Johnson announced this week that he intends to enter step four of the Covid recovery roadmap from July 19.

This means that the government will lift the limits on social contact that have been enforced across the UK since the start of the pandemic to halt the spread of the Coronavirus.

It was confirmed that one of the major changes set to be implemented following "Freedom Day" will be that the use of masks will become a matter of " personal choice."

READ MORE: Echo readers say government's July 19 plans are going too far

While the decision to lift the rules on facemasks has came under criticism from figures such as Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor, Steve Rotheram, the Prime Minister has defended the decision as he asks people to "exercise their own personal responsibility."

Although a legal obligation to wear a face covering will be removed, the government will still offer guidance on certain settings were a mask will still be advised.

We take a look at some of the environments where you may still be required to wear a facemask:

Public Transport

Under current restrictions, passengers must wear a suitable face covering when using public transport such as trains, buses and taxis, unless you are medically exempt.

After July 19, this will no longer be a legal requirement, however travel operators will still have the authority to implement a face covering requirement while you are using their services.

While speaking about the need to use "personal judgement" on whether you should wear a mask, Boris Johnson suggested it may still be advised to wear a mask on busy trains.

He said: "There is a big difference between travelling on a crowded tube train and sitting late at night on a virtually empty carriageway on the main railway line"

Flights

Easyjet and Ryanair have announced facemasks will still be compulsory on their flights after July 19 (David Parry/PA Wire)

The current restrictions dictate that you must wear a facemask while on an airplane. Under the new rules, the legal requirement to do this will be rescinded, but the travel company will have the power to implement this if they require.

Certain travel operators such as EasyJet and Ryanair have already confirmed they have no plans of changing their mandatory facemask policy. The flight operators stated that they are following guidelines from bodies such as the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

NHS settings

It is currently required by law to wear a suitable face covering in NHS settings such as hospitals, GP surgeries and care homes.

Following July 19, this requirement will be removed - but it has been suggested that there may be guidance offered to still advise the wearing of masks in these environments.

Shops and supermarkets

It is currently a compulsory requirement to wear face coverings while in a supermarket or a shop.

While the legal necessity to do this will be removed after "Freedom Day", individual shops and supermarkets will still have the power to impose facemasks for shoppers on their premises.

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