PASSENGERS in England will be required to cover their faces on public transport from June 15 to help limit the spread of the coronavirus, the government announced today.

The move was welcomed by transport unions RMT, TSSA and Aslef, but Labour questioned why it had taken months for ministers to act.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told the daily Downing Street press conference that face masks, scarves or visors will be mandatory on buses, trains, tubes and trams. 

Fines may be imposed on anyone failing to comply with the new rule, which does not apply to children aged under two or primary-school children travelling alone.

Shadow transport secretary Jim McMahon said that enforcing the measure two months after Labour and London Mayor Sadiq Khan called for it was “another example of the government being slow to act.”

Mr McMahon also pointed out that the government had yet to say whether bus drivers will be offered gloves and masks.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said the measure was “long overdue,” but added that people must avoid making non-essential journeys and that two-metre social distancing should be enforced.

He added: “We fear this announcement is being driven not by safety concerns but by the premature easing of the lockdown, which is swelling passenger numbers and making social distancing on transport increasingly impossible.

“But most importantly, the government needs to put the brakes on easing lockdown restrictions before there are further catastrophic consequences to peoples lives and livelihoods.”

TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes also welcomed the new rule, but added that it was “important to stress that people must not interpret the use of a face covering as a licence to breach social distancing.”

Mick Whelan, general secretary of train drivers’ union Aslef, welcomed face-covering as a “sensible step” that would “ease the concerns” of passengers and staff.