July 2021
Featured in this insight: Central government & non-department public bodies, Medical & healthcare
Six in ten UK citizens believe the legal requirement to wear face masks should remain: A survey by the Manchester Evening News has revealed that 60% of readers believe the legal requirement to wear face masks in public should remain after other restrictions are lifted. On the other hand, 34% of those surveyed are of the opinion that they should be scrapped, while 6% remain undecided.
The survey of over 3,000 participants also found that although only 60% said they wanted to keep the legal requirement to wear face masks, seven in ten said they would continue to wear a face covering on public transport, even if official rules say it is necessary. Almost a quarter, however, (23%) said they do not plan on wearing a face covering on public transport, with just 7% remaining unsure.
When asked about their opinions on returning to the workplace, 29% of workers who have been working from home said they would not feel comfortable returning to the office – only 23% said they would feel safe returning to work.
More than half the respondents polled (53%) said they would not want to go to pubs, bars and nightclubs without a face mask, with just over a third (35%) stating they would be fine without wearing a face covering in an indoor, public space.
With many restrictions being lifted in July, some people believe it will forever be the end of restriction in the UK; however, the vast majority (70%) believe lockdown restrictions will return later in the year. Just 12% believe there will be no further restrictions, leaving 19% unsure about the future.
The UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, said: ‘[we would] run the risk of either opening up at a very difficult time when the virus has an edge [or risk] putting everything off to next year [if we don’t ease restrictions.]’
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