Face coverings must be worn on public transport in UK from Monday 15 June

• In line with new Government guidance, face coverings must be worn for the full duration of journeys on the public transport network from Monday 15 June
• Latest scientific advice says that face coverings can help reduce the chance of infecting others
• Face coverings can be a simple cloth that covers the nose and mouth. Customers can also make their own face coverings
• TfL helping customers adjust to new requirement by piloting the temporary distribution of face masks at targeted Tube and bus stations
• Customers should continue to avoid public transport except for essential journeys that cannot be made by other means

Transport for London (TfL) has today confirmed that, in line with new Government guidance on the wearing of face coverings on public transport, all customers travelling on the TfL transport network must wear face coverings for the duration of their journeys from Monday 15 June.

The latest scientific advice suggests that, although face coverings are unlikely to prevent an individual from catching the coronavirus, they can help prevent someone who is infected from infecting others and therefore help control the virus.

TfL has been running a far-reaching communications campaign to encourage the use of face coverings, with posters, radio and other advertisements, announcements and millions of emails sent to customers. The latest estimates suggest that between 30-50 per cent of customers on public transport are now protecting other passengers and staff by using a face covering, with the new requirements designed to make face coverings the norm.

Face coverings can be a simple cloth that covers the nose and mouth. They can be made using many items found in the home or in many shops open across London, with resources available to help people make their own, including at www.london.gov.uk/coronavirus/face-covering-guidance  

Alternatively, face coverings can be purchased at a number of local shops or online.

To help customers adjust to the forthcoming new requirement, TfL is also piloting the temporary distribution of free face coverings at a selection of Tube and bus stations that have typically seen higher numbers of customers travelling throughout the lockdown period.

TfL’s distribution of face coverings, which should be used once over a single journey, will start this coming Monday 8 June and is expected to run over the next couple of weeks – with volunteers from TfL and the Greater London Authority (GLA) safely distributing them to customers who need them.

TfL’s police partners will continue to support TfL and its operators and, from 15 June, will help customers to comply with the requirement to wear a face covering when on public transport.

In addition, TfL is working with retail tenants on the transport network to help make more face coverings available to people who are travelling.

The introduction of the new requirement on face coverings does not alter the existing guidance from the Government and the Mayor that the most important thing Londoners can do to keep themselves and each other safe is to continue to work from home where possible and to only use public transport for essential journeys that cannot be made by other means such as walking and cycling.