"I'm still wearing mine, it's still with us isn't it" says Chris Wardle as he pulls his screwed-up black cloth face mask from his coat pocket.
And he is not alone.
Today was another big milestone in the country's battle with Covid.
All the so-called 'Plan B' restrictions brought in before Christmas to try and halt the spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus officially expired, with the government saying they will not be renewed.
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It means it is no longer a legal requirement to wear a face-covering in shops, public transport, or in fact any setting in England other than public transport in London.
The Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted saying the rules were able to be relaxed due to the success of the country's booster jab campaign but that the 'pandemic is not over yet' and that everyone 'should remain cautious.'
And walking around Manchester city centre, that sense of caution was palpable.
Of course, anecdotally, compliance with mask-wearing since the rule change during the festive period has been lower than the first part of the pandemic, with some people seemingly having gotten out of the habit during last summer's previous complete lifting of restrictions.
But today swathes of shoppers, even walking in the open air down Market Street, were still sporting the blue surgical masks, that have become such a common sight over the past 18 months, as well as their own patterned designed cloth coverings.
Signs in the windows of dozens of shops on the high street asking people to mask-up remained. In the Arndale centre, announcements were still being played over the PA system kindly requesting shoppers mask 'if you can'.
Whilst in one corner of the city's iconic shopping mall, a man stood in front of a vending machine which instead of fizzy drinks and crisps, sells both disposable and cloth face masks for those who have forgotten theirs.
And although this may be the beginning of the end for widespread mask-wearing, based on the people the Manchester Evening News spoke to today, there was a feeling it certainly wasn't the end just yet.
"I had Covid less than a month ago so my immune system is obviously quite strong against it now" Chris, 49, said as he leaned on a bench in the middle of Market Street.
"But my wife is in Tesco and she has got hers on. And as a family we are being very cautious. It's a difficult one.
"I'm not perhaps being as cautious as I have been. I don't feel the need to wear it in the open air for example but when we go inside places I definitely still am. In the shops, the supermarket that kind of thing."
"I haven't had Covid yet and I don't want to get it now" said Chris' wife Kay, 53, after emerging from the shop.
"We have had a lot of friends who have been bad with it, and even died because of it, so we know how serious it is" Chris added.
For Kevin McQuaid, 66, and wife Tracy, 56, from Failsworth, it has become a part of life that they intend on shelving anytime soon, despite the rule change.
"We live between the UK and Turkey and you have to wear one everywhere over there so we are used to it now" Tracy said. "I still have my hand gel in my pocket as well.
"There's hardly any times indoors I don't wear one really and we'll certainly carry on doing that. I'm not sure today will make a lot of difference for a lot of people.
"We're going on holiday in a few weeks to Gran Canaria and I won't be wearing one on the beach as I don't want a tan mark on my face. But other than that, I don't see the problem.
"I don't know why people make such a fuss about it, it's no hardship is it? So carry on I say."
Even among couples and groups of friends out together there was a split with some sporting masks and others not.
Public health guidance still recommends wearing face coverings in "crowded and enclosed spaces."
However, for some, who see themselves as vulnerable, like Katie Denise, 30, the rule change has come too soon and is causing some anxiety.
"I have asthma so I will definitely be keeping mine on" Katie said. "Especially in the city centre and other busy places.
"I have seen through family who work in the NHS what it is like for people on the frontline.
"It's not just Covid either there's other stuff about as well."
"So I think this is too soon. I think it should be compulsory like in China. "
Others have their own reasons for not wanting to ditch them just yet.
Tracey Holliston, sipping a coffee outside a café in the Northern Quarter with her daughter said: "We deliberately drove in today and decided against going to a few places which were really busy, and sat outside here.
"It does seem a bit soon to be lifting stuff like this. It's still around and I don't watch to catch it.
"I am doing a trade fair in a few weeks at the NEC and I'm not planning to wear one there so I can properly communicate with people.
"But I don't want to miss it because I'm isolating, so when I've got important things like that coming up I always wear one, as I don't want to catch it, and I'll carry on doing that I think.
Outside Piccadilly Station, train passenger Janice Hopson, 60, said: "“I’ll still be wearing one as I’m a beauty therapist so I’m always working in close contact with people. It’s about the safety of my customers really.”
However, for some, the ditching of masks cannot come a day too soon and there is a smile on labourer Denzul Slack's face as he says he will be putting his in the bin after today.
"I just think it's pointless wearing them," says Denzul dressed in his high-vis jacket and hard-hat.
"I don't think they stop the spread.
"I work on building sites and there has been very little wearing of them on there, even in the lifts and stuff.
"So I've been working without one all this time and it seems a bit pointless then putting one on to just nip into the shop for two seconds or something.
"So I think today is just a confirmation of what's been happening really."
And some say they have noticed a difference already.
"I came in on the train from Rochdale and there were definitely less people wearing them today than the last few weeks," said 31-year-old Luke McMillan.
"I will probably still wear mine in shops and busy places like that. We were actually having this conversation in work, it's probably changed people's attitude to being ill. Would you go to the office or a busy shop if you were feeling under the weather or coughing and spluttering? Probably not.
"I think ultimately it's about personal responsibility and with the masks it's up to people's judgment now isn't it."
There was at least a lukewarm welcome for the change from some of those, those working in the retail.
Carl Myatt runs The Manchester Shop and Luna in the legendary Afflecks on Oldham Street.
"I have told my staff if they want to wear one to keep doing so. Particularly if it gets very busy and there are lots of people in, or if they're in our office which is quite small.
"It hasn't gone away has it?"
"We get a mix of age groups in here and even before the mask rule came back in before Christmas a lot of people were still wearing them anyway.
"But I must admit it does feel nice not to have to wear one by law, and for staff and customers to know they don't have to wear one if ifs quiet for example
"Everyone has taken personal responsibility so far and I think that will just carry on.
"But it definitely feels like we're coming out the other side of this which is just great as its been such a difficult time."
It isn't just the rules around masks that have been relaxed.
Covid passes proving people's vaccination status or proof of recent lateral flow tests will no longer be required to enter nightclubs and other large capacity venues.
And the guidance to work from home where possible was also lifted at the same time it was confirmed the Plan B restrictions would end.
And that could provide a huge boost to the city centre economy according to Morgan Davies, CEO and founder of popular Mexican restaurant and takeaway chain Barburrito.
"There has been a real split between those really worried about the virus and those just wanting to get on their lives" Morgan told the M.E.N.
"Personally I think it's really positive that we are at a point where people don't need to wear masks.
"We of course respect it if individuals want to wear them, that's absolutely fine.
"In a restaurant environment, it's finally nice to see people coming in, relaxing and not having to think about the backdrop of Covid.
"But the big thing for us really is around the working from guidance and people being encouraged to get back to the offices.
"The city centre has really missed that city centre buzz at lunchtime and it's been a really big deal for our industry and hopefully we're finally at a point where we'll start to see office workers come back in."
