Face coverings will be mandatory on all public transport in England starting June 15th, as the country continues to ease out of coronavirus lockdown. 

The government will require people to wear face coverings on buses, trains, tubes and other modes of public transport from that date when non-essential shops are likely to reopen.

Exceptions will be made for children, the elderly and those with respiratory problems and could be enforced by British transport police, says Britain’s Transport Minister, Grant Shapps. 

Public transport will be ramped up with additional trains, buses, and subways added to existing routes to help lessen crowding as more people return to work.

Ministers are bringing in the policy due to concerns about the difficulties of physical distancing on crowded public transport, despite people being asked to use other ways of travelling, to space out, face away from each other and travel at staggered times.