FACE masks are increasingly becoming a distant memory of the Covid crisis.
But they won’t disappear, as personal choice means many people will continue to use them for precaution.
There are some places where face coverings are still encouraged, or will remain mandatory even if not enforceable by law.
The requirement to wear a face mask in public indoor settings in England was dropped on 27 January.
Now, the nation is moving towards “living with Covid”, with remaining rules on self-isolation scrapped.
People have personal responsibility to protect themselves and others from the virus, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said.
The places where you are encouraged to mask up are:
GP surgeries and hospitals
NHS England has said patients will still be required to wear face masks in GP practices and hospitals.
In a letter published on February 23, it said there will be “no immediate changes” to infection prevention and control requirements, despite rules being dropped across the nation.
“This includes the requirement for staff, patients and visitors to wear a mask/face covering in healthcare settings”, it said.
The Government says: “You are required to wear a face covering on entering these healthcare settings and must keep it on until you leave unless you are exempt or have a reasonable excuse for removing it.”
Care homes
The Government says care homes are a healthcare setting where face coverings are required.
It says: “They must also be worn by everyone accessing or visiting care homes.”
Busy places
The legal requirement to wear a face covering no longer applies.
However, the government suggests that you continue to wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces where you may come into contact with people you do not normally meet.
This could include a busy retail shop, an airport or place of worship, for example.
Whether you chose to do this is a personal choice.
Supermarkets
You don’t need to wear a face covering when you go food shopping any more.
But many major retailers have encouraged staff and customers to wear a face mask if they are able to since legal mandates have been dropped.
This includes Tesco, Sainsburys, Lidl, Waitrose and John Lewis.
The stores say it is down to individuals to make a choice.
Public transport
From February 24, face coverings are no longer mandatory on Transport for London’s tubes, trains or buses.
However, customers and staff will be “strongly recommended” to continue to do so if they are able.
The transport body added that it had “considered a variety of factors including the shift in the Government’s approach towards living with the virus and decreasing infection rates in London”.
It’s worth looking into the guidance in place for the train company, or otherwise, that you use where you live.
For example, Southern Rail says “please be considerate of each other and wear a face covering if you can whilst travelling”.
