Public asked to be mindful of other people's views around mask wearing
They won't be compulsory from the 19th of July
Health officials in North Yorkshire are asking the public to be mindful of other people's views around mask wearing after it stops being compulsory.
It was announced earlier this week that masks won't be needed when in indoor settings from the 19th of July - the country's so-called 'freedom day'.
But the move has divided opinions of the public, with around one in two people saying they would still want to wear a mask in certain settings.
In yesterday's North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum the panel asked the public to respect other people's decisions around face coverings.
Richard Webb, corporate director for health and adult services and North Yorkshire County Council, said: "We would always urge being cautious and mindful of yourself and loved ones but also others. Some people may feel confident and others may feel really worried so it's about striking that careful balance.
"I think I will be wearing a face covering for some time. It is a time where things are evolving and changing but we just need to continue with taking care of ourselves and each other as we move through the next stage of the roadmap."
If all goes to the Prime Minister’s plan, legal requirements on the wearing of masks and social distancing will end on July 19, along with legal limits on gatherings.
Work from home guidance would also be scrapped and nightclubs would reopen, while pubs, theatres and sporting venues would be able to operate at full capacity.
Also speaking in yesterday's media briefing, Dr Victoria Turner, said: We are not expecting all adults to have had two doses of the vaccine until mid-September and at the moment we're still waiting to hear if it will extend to young people.
"So for now we would be encouraging people to continue with wearing face coverings and other preventative measures certainly until everyone is able to benefit from the same levels of protection from the vaccination."