A commuter pulls a mask up over their face and steps on to a busy bus.
It is a ritual that has become almost automatic over the last two years.
But ever since the government made face masks optional back in July, the number of people wearing them on a day-to-day basis has dwindled.
While some have remained cautious and continued to wear them with pride, others had started to believe face coverings were a thing of the past.
READ MORE: Team GB Olympic star's heartbreak after tragic death of brother in industrial accident
Yet the emergence of the Omicron Covid-19 variant has forced Prime Minister Boris Johnson to once again make masks mandatory in shops and on public transport.
As the new rules came into force on Greater Manchester's transport network yesterday, we asked passengers at Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink stop and Bury Interchange what they thought about them.
Amy Farrar, 18, said she was happy to start donning a mask again.
“I think it’s a good thing to prevent further lockdowns but I don’t think many people will follow it," said Ms Farrar, from Stretford.
“It’s a bit annoying that it’s gone back. I don’t mind, but I know a lot of people who are against wearing them.
“Previously when people had to wear masks, they didn’t.”
Meanwhile, Louis Walton, from West Didsbury, said he was 'not too fussed' by the new rules.
"It’s not that much effort," the 28-year-old explained.
"I’m not really fussed about wearing a mask for five or ten minutes on a tram.
“It’s just annoying when you forget. I forgot mine this morning and had to turn around to get one. It was a ball ache.”
Another who thinks she government has made the right call is 58-year-old Lee Walker, from Wythenshawe.
He said: “It’s only right, innit? Covid is starting up again.
“I don’t think it’s going to be as bad this time, but it is better to be safe.
“It doesn’t bother me to wear them on trams but it’s not good walking around the shops.”
The new measures have been introduced, along with additional travel rules, to help slow the spread of the Omicron variant.
The government has promised to review the rules in three weeks, with Health Secretary Sajid Javid saying he hoped they would be “temporary”.
Although being asked to wear a face mask may appear to be a fairly uncontroversial request, some fear it could be the first step towards another lockdown.
One of those is Maisy Pomphrey, a student at Manchester Metropolitan University.
“I’d have to go home," said the 19-year-old. "I don’t fancy a lockdown in halls.
“It freaks me out. I think it’s quite scary."
However, Ms Pomphrey said she was happy to comply with the new rules on face masks.
“I quite like wearing them on public transport," she said.
“I feel like everyone should be wearing one.”
Jess White, from Salford, said she hopes the new rules will help to stem the spread of the new variant.
“I think it’s really good to stop the Omicron," said the 30-year-old.
“It’s come at the right time, but I don’t think it’s been enforced.
“I work at a college and about half of them weren’t wearing them this morning and they took public transport.
“The students’ response was ‘well no one on the trams is wearing one'."
Ms White is exempt from wearing a mask, but still tries to one where possible.
She explained: “A lot of people cough on the tram and I think if you have a cough, people should be taking extra precautions and they aren’t.
“I’m exempt, but I don’t think the rules are that clear. The exemption rules are a mess.
“I won’t wear one if I’m struggling to breathe, but as soon as I feel okay, I put one on.
“Yesterday, I ran for the tram and put one on, I was struggling to breathe and no one else in the carriage had one on.
“I think the biggest problem is that no one knows the rules: when do you put them on? When do you take them off? What if there’s a problem?
“The signs have been up the whole time and haven’t changed.”
Over in Bury, Metrolink staff are dishing out bottles of hand sanitiser and politely reminding passengers to wear their masks.
Most people seem grateful and more than happy to oblige.
Rhona Goldenfield, 77, is catching the tram for just the second time since the pandemic began.
The introduction of the new rules has given her the confidence to do so, she says.
"They should never have been taken off," said Ms Goldenfield.
“If it was not for this new rule then I would not have come on the Metrolink today.
“Before Covid, I used the trams all the time but I’ve only got on once since.
"I didn’t like it because people weren’t wearing masks, so I was forced back into my car.”
Gary Ditchfield, 36, has just got off a tram from Whitefield, which he says was 'full of masks'.
"There were more than usual," he said. "That's encouraging."
Breathing difficulties mean Mr Ditchfield is exempt from wearing a face covering, but he says he feels safer now they have been made compulsory again.
"Wearing masks should be normal because we don't know what is out there," he explained.
"The new variant worries me because I work in a hospital. I'm exposed to things like that first."
Anyone flouting the new rules could face a fine of £200 for the first offence, which could eventually increase to a maximum of £6,400 for repeat offenders.
However, a bus driver, who asked not to be named, said he believed it would difficult to enforce mask-wearing.
"There have been a few more people wearing masks today but some younger people don't seem to care," he explained.
"They are just getting on without one because they know they will get away with it.
"There's nobody actually policing it and we are not allowed to say anything to them."
Ethan Bardsley, 18, said that while some of his friends are unhappy about being told to wear a mask, he intends to follow the rules to protect his relatives.
"I've got vulnerable people in my family, so it's safer for them if I wear one.
"Wearing a mask is not going to kill you, is it?
"People are just complaining because they can.
"Some of my friends don't want to wear them but as long as I'm wearing one then I'm happy."
David Tighe, 66, is waiting patiently for a bus back to Bacup after going shopping at The Rock.
It's the first time he has worn a masks in months, but he says he 'doesn't mind'.
"I don't wear them unless I have to," he said. "I haven't worn them in buses and shops before today because the government said we didn't have to.
"The figures have gone up now, so I'm just going along with what they tell us to do."
While many people are getting to grips with wearing masks again, some never stopped.
“I wouldn’t dream of coming out without a mask," said Sheila Walmsley, 76.
“I do think it helps. I’m bad with breathing but it doesn’t hinder me."
Ms Walmsley is about to get on a bus home to Middleton after meeting up with a friend in Radcliffe.
While on her travels, she says she noticed there were still a considerable number of people without a mask.
“A lot of people don’t like being told what to do," she said.
"They should have people poking them and there should be a reasonable fine like £5 so it would hit home.
“It’s for the greater good and it’s such a small price to pay.
"Wearing a mask doesn't hurt you and it doesn’t exactly cost much."
Transport for Greater Manchester’s (TfGM) head of operations, Alex Cropper, said: “To help keep our passengers and staff safe, the wearing of face coverings has continued to be a requirement – unless exempt – for those using the Metrolink network, bus stations and interchanges since the summer.
“As of part of the latest government measures to slow the spread of the Omicron variant in the UK, you must, by law, now wear a face covering on all public transport.
“The focus of our teams has been on education, engagement and encouraging passengers to wear a face covering to help keep themselves and others safe. The TravelSafe Partnership, which is jointly led by TfGM and GMP Transport Unit, alongside transport operators, has completed in excess of 50 days of action and handed out thousands of masks – that remain available and free at all transport interchanges – to customers.
“Police officers and transport staff will continue to patrol our networks, and while we will continue to adopt this approach, those who do not comply could be prevented from using a service or issued with a fine.
“For everyone’s safety and wellbeing, we’d encourage all passengers to be considerate of one another and wear a face covering, unless exempt.”
