TSSA backs face coverings call on public transport

TSSA General Secretary, Manuel Cortes, has backed a call from London Mayor Sadiq Khan that face coverings should remain compulsory on Transport for London (TfL) services and the wider network, after restrictions end in England. 

This follows an announcement from the government that England's Plan B measures are to end from next Thursday (27 January), with mandatory face coverings in public places and Covid passports both dropped. 

Commenting, union leader Cortes said: “As ever our union puts public health first and we know that face coverings help reduce transmission of the virus and will give the public confidence on public transport.  

“It’s vital our brave transport members who have been on the frontline of this pandemic continue to feel they are protected. It’s also important we do all that is reasonable get people back onto public transport in London and elsewhere so that we can build a clean, green recovery from this virus. 

“Sadiq Khan is spot on when he says face coverings should remain beyond the end of Plan B, especially given the rates of infection we are still seeing. Clearly the government should back this, not only for London but across the rest of our public transport network.”