TfL will no longer require Tube and bus passengers to wear face coverings

Passengers on Transport for London (TfL) services will no longer be required to wear face coverings on buses and the Tube from Thursday.

This comes as Boris Johnson announced the end of all Covid restrictions - including self isolation after testing positive - on February 24.

Although wearing a mask is no longer a legal requirement, the transport body is still encouraging customers to wear them if they are able to.

Throughout the pandemic, TfL kept up the face covering rule, despite the government removing the requirement from other indoor public spaces.

Lilli Matson, chief safety, health and environment officer for TfL, said: “Transport is an essential element of London’s recovery from the pandemic.

“We have seen increasing numbers of customers return to our network as they begin to return to offices and workplaces, as well as to bars, theatres, restaurants and other cultural venues.

“That return is due in part to the confidence that Londoners have in our ongoing work to ensure that the transport network is clean, reliable and safe.

"Following the Government’s decision to lift coronavirus restrictions and the falling infection rates in London, we will be removing the condition of carriage that requires customers to wear face coverings from February 24.

“But we will continue to strongly recommend that customers and staff wear them as they are proven to reduce the risk of transmission and we know they provide confidence to people using public transport.

“All customers should be assured that the public transport network is as safe as other similar settings, and that independent testing has found no trace of coronavirus on our network since September 2020.

“We look forward to continuing to welcome customers back to our network as we help London and the economy recover.”

The mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “Following the government dropping all legal Covid restrictions, and in light of falling infection levels in London, it is expected that wearing a face covering will no longer be a condition of carriage on the TfL network.

“However, we know that face coverings remain a simple, effective measure that give Londoners confidence to travel, and following clear advice from public health advisers, TfL will likely continue to recommend their use on the network.

“I urge passengers to be considerate of their fellow Londoners and continue to wear a face covering where appropriate unless exempt.”