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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Lorna Hughes & Alahna Kindred

Giles Coren slams 'masked ninnies' suffering with 'post-pandemic health hysteria'

Giles Coren's latest column attacks people still wearing face masks after Plan B rules were lifted, branding them "cringing losers afraid of their own shadows".

The writer and TV presenter blasted "masked ninnies", saying they had "post-pandemic health hysteria", adding that some were on a "courtesy crusade".

The sour comments were in his latest Sunday Times column, in which he described his journey on the London Underground on Thursday - which was the day that mandatory mask-wearing was axed in England.

He said most of his fellow passengers still wore face coverings and debated why they had chosen to wear them

He stressed he was not an "anti-masker", but said they had "sheeplike obedience to yesterday's rules".

Commuters on the Jubilee Line in East London, make their way into offices after advice to work from home was dropped (PA)

He wrote: "Perhaps, I thought, they were wearing them against air pollution, which is bad at the moment.

"Or because it was a cold morning and they actively enjoyed the warmth of their foetid breath circulating inside the germy fabric?

"Or perhaps, I supposed, these masked ninnies were still so afraid of the now-harmless bug that they were prepared to endure the mild discomfort and inconvenience that comes with the illusion of security provided by a mask.

Masks are still recommended in some settings such as on London public transport (NurPhoto/PA Images)

"Or perhaps, in their post-pandemic health hysteria, they were hoping now to protect themselves against flu, measles, hepatitis ... even cancer? (I know, but people are weird — weird and stupid)."

While masks are no longer a legal requirement in England, there are still some settings where they are recommended.

Londoners need to keep wearing them when using Transport for London services.

While London Mayor Sadiq Khan's demands are not enforceable by police and do not carry a fine, face masks will remain a "condition of carriage" on TfL services.

That means you can be refused admission to a Tube or bus without one.

Mr Khan urged the PM to rethink scrapping face masks altogether.

He said: "Wearing a face covering is one of the single most important and easiest things we can all do to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and the Government should rethink their plans."

Some supermarkets will continue to either ask or suggest that shoppers wear a mask.

Sainsbury’s and John Lewis said their customers will be asked to wear masks, though the latter acknowledged it will ultimately come down to “personal choice”.

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