TSSA backs face coverings across transport hubs

The word "coronavirus" with a picture of an animated man on the side.

TSSA General Secretary, Manuel Cortes, has welcomed the mandatory use of face coverings across indoor transport hubs in England as of Friday 24 July.

This will mean coverings must be worn in areas including enclosed stations, ports, terminals and airports – in line with the Government announcement that face coverings must be worn in shops and retail outlets as of Friday.

Manuel Cortes said:

“Our union welcomes this step as face coverings, alongside proper personal protective equipment, are likely to play a key role in reducing transmission of this deadly virus.

“We must continue to do everything possible to keep passengers and our heroic transport workers safe in the fight to overcome the Covid pandemic as the use of public transport begins to increase in the weeks and months to come.

“If face coverings are good enough for shops, they are good enough for our transport network – so this plan makes sense. However, it’s important to stress that people must not interpret the use of a face covering as a licence to breach physical distancing measures.

“Nor should transport workers be expected to put themselves in any danger by policing the regulations. It falls to British Transport Police to enforce these public health instructions – which I’d urge all passengers to fully comply with, for everyone’s sake.”