The Masks of London
England’s so-called “Freedom Day” was set to bring tremendous change. On the 24th of February 2022, many individuals braced themselves for a return to normality, as all legalities surrounding Covid-19 were dropped.
Self-isolation laws were lifted, travel restrictions were abolished, and face coverings became no longer mandatory in public spaces. Transport for London (TfL) – which has insisted on facial-covering since July 2020 – adopted the latter measure.
During the last week of February, travelling Londoners were finally freed from compulsory mask-wearing.
TfL said: “[We] made the decision to no longer require customers to wear face coverings as a condition of carriage on its services from 24 February, having considered a variety of factors including the shift in the Government’s approach towards living with the virus.
“TfL strongly encourages customers to wear face coverings on its services to drive down transmission of the virus and keep each other as safe as possible.”
“57,449 people were stopped by TfL enforcement officers from getting on our public transport services until they put on a face covering”
Gemma Jacob, TfL Senior FOI Case Officer
Unlike other local UK-based public transport networks, TfL has embraced an unwavering policy on customer mask-wearing, since the start of the pandemic.
According to TfL, between 30 November 2021 and 2 February 2022, over 1,733 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs), at £200, were issued to customers refusing to wear masks.
Gemma Jacob, TfL Senior FOI Case Officer, said “57,449 people were stopped by TfL enforcement officers from getting on our public transport services until they put on a face-covering: 2,770 people were prevented from boarding, 1,060 people were asked to leave our services.”
Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, mask compliance in London has been faced with challenges. Yet, following “Freedom Day”, many Londoners still appear to be travelling with their faces covered.
Bethnal Green, which is part of Tower Hamlets – one of London’s worst Covid-hit boroughs – still has an exceedingly high mask compliance rate.
Almost 70% of Bethnal Green residents still wear face coverings on public transport, which is a fall in compliance of only 22%, since masks became non-mandatory. Of those questioned, an overwhelming majority stated their reasoning as safety and security.
“We are still getting members of staff catching Covid-19. Five of 30 staff in my area this month [have caught Covid-19]“
Tony H, TFL staff
Tony H*, based in Bethnal Green, is a member of TFL station staff. He has worn his mask on public transport throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and still continues to wear it.
“We are still getting members of staff catching Covid-19. Five of 30 staff in my area this month [have caught Covid-19],” he said.
The protective qualities of facial coverings are indisputable. Cotton and surgical masks have been found to reduce Covid-19 particle transmission by up to 50%, with N95 masks blocking up to 90%, according to the American Society for Microbiology.
Derek Wells, a local resident, has worn a mask while travelling since the pandemic began as “I judged it to be better for me and the public.
“Wearing a mask is only a minor inconvenience for me. I am erring on the side of caution.”
Derek continues to wear his mask, despite restrictions being lifted.
“There were recordings on the trains and buses asking us to wear [masks]”
Pamela Skeggs, Bethnal Green resident
The Tower Hamlets’ Covid-19 infection is still above the national average, at 433.1 per 100,00 people. Yet not all residents are still keen on wearing masks whilst using public transport.
Before face coverings became discretionary, Jim Hopson, who lives locally, would only occasionally wear a mask. Now, with restrictions lifted, he chooses not to wear a mask on public transport, as “they simply do not work.”
However, Pamela Skeggs, a pensioner from Bethnal Green, wears a mask to secure her own health and wellbeing. “We were asked to wear masks on public transport [when they were mandatory]. There were recordings on the trains and buses asking us to wear them.
“Being a disabled pensioner, I felt better wearing one,” she said.
Despite Londoners grappling with a “new normal”, some things never change.
Pamela said: “If on the tube, I wear a mask. Most of the time, people are packed in like sardines in a tin.”
*Name as provided by individual
Feature image by Viktor Forgacs via Unsplash (Edit: Mia Lyndon on Canva)