Most of people want masks to remain mandatory in shops as well as on trains and buses, poll finds

Most people want masks to stay mandatory in stores as well as on trains and buses even when restrictions are lifted.

A poll by YouGov asked people whether they wanted masks to remain mandatory even if restrictions are lifted in England, Wales, and Scotland. Of the 2,749 adults asked on Monday 71% said they wanted face coverings to remain compulsory on public transport and 66% wanted these to be mandatory to put on in shops and enclosed public places.

The poll was taken on the day Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced how Stage Four of lockdown easing would look in England with requirements for social distancing and masks set to become ditched on so-called 'Freedom Day', which is likely to take place on July 19. However any such one-day target for the easing of limits continues to be eliminated in Wales as infections continue to rise and two parts of the country saw case rates surge past the 200 mark. You are able to recap all of the latest for Wales following Monday's Welsh Government briefing by visiting this site.

While it remains seen if Wales will sooner or later follow Mr Johnson's intend to make any utilization of goggles an individual choice rather than a legal requirement the YouGov survey showed support to keep masks mandatory in most major political groups although strength varies over the spectrum. Some 82% of 2021 Lib Dem voters support keeping masks mandatory on trains and buses while 79% of Labour voters have been in favour and 67% of Conservative voters back this type of move.

At a Downing Street press conference on Monday the Prime Minister said he will make public on July 12 whether all restrictions in England will be lifted on July 19. The Prime Minister said he wanted to escape from legal restrictions and permit people to make their own "informed decisions" including on the issue of wearing masks.

Under the Prime Minister's plan for Fourth step from the road map in England:

• there will be no limits on social contact meaning the end of the orders such as the “rule of six” and restrictions on guests at weddings and mourners at funerals;
• legal requirement to put on face coverings will be lifted, although guidance will suggest people might choose to achieve this in “enclosed and crowded places”;
• all remaining businesses can re-open, including nightclubs, while capacity caps will be lifted and bars and restaurants will no longer be limited to table service;
• the UK Government will no longer instruct individuals to work at home;
• the “one metre-plus” rule on social distancing will be lifted with the exception of specific circumstances such as at the border, where guidance will stay.

Mr Johnson said individuals will still have to self-isolate if told to but the UK Government want to "move to another regime" for those who are fully vaccinated and come in contact with someone who has tested positive as well as set a different rule for children.

England's chief medical officer Chris Whitty told the same press conference he expects cases to go up and said the amount of deaths increases. Next he said the link between deaths and hospitalisations because of vaccinations have been weakened but not broken.

Wales' rules are set by Welsh Government and subsequently review is going to be on July 15.

Wales' health minister Eluned Morgan has stated she is certain that rising coronavirus infection levels in Wales won't cause the same degree of illness or harm because the first two waves of Covid.

The health minister said the easing of restrictions in England will not influence the Welsh Government's decision on what should happen about this side from the border.

Ms Morgan said "if it's not right for Wales we won't be doing that" and added the deadline in England has "again and again set and been missed." She said as the Welsh Government want to follow a unified approach all four UK nations this had not been possible.