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Andy Burnham to make face masks compulsory on Metrolink trams after July 19th
They will not be enforced on bus services across the region, however…
Face masks will be compulsory on Metrolink trams and in Manchester Airport from Monday, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham revealed last night.
Following in the footsteps of London Mayor Sadiq Khan – who announced yesterday that all tube services across the capital will continue to enforce face masks after the 19th – Burnham announced that Greater Manchester will be making its own rules regarding the use of face masks and social distancing on public transport, regardless of the government’s stance on the matter.
However, Burnham holds no power over enforcing the rule on buses, though he said he is encouraging bus operators to follow suit.
ITV News
At a press conference yesterday, Burnham said: “We are still in a pandemic and we need to think in terms of collective safety rather than individual freedom or personal responsibility.”
In the run up to the revised ‘freedom day’ on July 19th, the Mayor has been continuously stressing the importance of face masks, particularly on public transport.
On Monday he told ITV News: “Public opinion is very squarely behind people continuing to wear masks – on public transport, particularly – but also possibly in essential retail.
Dr Neil Clifton / Wikimedia Commons
“People have been getting in touch with me saying, ‘I want to get rid of it, it’s my choice’, but the bottom line is, if you’re standing next to somebody on a bus, who’s got to get the bus and are on the way to have their chemo or dialysis, you’ve got to put yourself in their shoes.”
The move is a sudden U-turn from Burnham, who said last week he would not implement local rules in Greater Manchester because it would ’cause confusion.’ Asked what has changed his mind, he conceded that at first he believed it would be difficult to enforce but, after hearing from increasing numbers of people expressing concerns about the relaxation in rules, he decided to take action.
The government is pressing ahead with its final stage of relaxing coronavirus rules from July 19th, meaning there will no longer be a legal requirement to wear a face covering in shops and other enclosed spaces.