Plan B covid restrictions in England have expired, meaning that people are no longer legally obliged to wear face coverings in any public setting.
Along with the end of a legal obligation to wear face masks, the removal of Plan B measures means that large events and venues are no longer required to ask for NHS covid passes, while the Department for Education's guidance on the use of face coverings in communal areas has been removed.
Plan B measures had also asked office workers who were able to work from home to do so from December 13, but the government ended this guidance on January 19.
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The end of the legal obligation to wear face coverings is the change that will affect the most people.
Though face masks are no longer required by law, the Government still suggests that they should be worn in crowded and indoor spaces where people might come into contact with others that they do not usually meet.
Such situations would likely include busy public transport systems, so we asked public transport operators in Merseyside whether passengers would still be required or encouraged to wear face coverings while using their services.
Merseyrail
Merseyrail will encourage passengers to continue to wear face coverings while travelling, unless they are exempt.
If you are exempt from wearing a covering, Merseyrail will provide you with an exemption card here.
Additionally, Covid continues to affect Merseyrail's timetable. Due to the impact of the Omicron variant on its staff availability, a 30-minute timetable has been running on all of its lines since January 17.
Merseytravel
Merseytravel, which is responsible for coordinating public transport across the Liverpool City Region,
It wrote on Twitter: "Whilst restrictions have eased and face coverings are no longer mandatory, we’re encouraging you to wear them on public transport to help keep everyone safe.
"Thank you for your continued cooperation when using our services - you've been doing a great job!"
Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram added: "Throughout the pandemic, I have been clear that wearing face coverings on public transport and in other enclosed spaces is a simple and effective way of helping contain the spread of COVID-19.
"Despite government guidance changing from today so that face coverings are no longer mandatory, I’d encourage people across the Liverpool City Region to continue to err on the side of caution and continue to wear them, as covid-19 levels remain high."
Arriva
Guidance on bus operator Arriva's website stated: "From Thursday 27th January, following government guidance, we encourage you to wear a face covering in busy spaces."
Stagecoach
Stagecoach, which runs a number of bus routes across the region, is encouraging the wearing of face coverings in certain circumstances.
A spokesperson for bus operator Stagecoach said: "Whilst face coverings are no longer mandatory on public transport, in line with government guidance, people are encouraged to continue wearing a face covering in crowded spaces if they can."
Northern Rail
A spokesperson for Northern Rail, which operates a number of train services across Liverpool and the wider region, said: “We encourage customers to continue to wear a face covering in crowded places, unless exempt."
Northern passengers are asked to check before they travel as the train operator is running several amended and reduced timetables across its network.
Avanti West Coast
Avanti, which runs trains from Liverpool Lime Street on the West Coast Mainline, confirmed on Twitter today that it will be encouraging the wearing of face masks on its trains and in its stations as a courtesy to others.
The tweet said: “ From today you will no longer need to wear face coverings onboard or at our stations in England. As a courtesy to others, we thank you for continuing to wear a face covering if you can.
“You’ll still need to wear a face covering for journeys on our services in Wales & Scotland.”
Avanti is currently running a reduced timetable on weekdays February 25.
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