Do I need to wear a face mask on the Newcastle Metro?

Face masks are once again compulsory to travel on the Tyne and Wear Metro as of today.

The announcement from the travel operator comes as face coverings on public transport was made mandatory overnight across the country.

The Government confirmed the measures to prevent the spread of the new Covid-19 Omicron variant in the UK.

Across the country, the public must now wear face coverings in shops, post offices and hairdressers.

Only customers who are medically exempt can continue to travel without a covering.

Customer Services Director at Nexus, Huw Lewis, said: “We have always encouraged people to wear face coverings when using public transport unless they are exempt.

"The Government has now said that from tomorrow face coverings will be mandatory and we hope and expect that our customers will follow this clear instruction.

“We made wearing face coverings part of Metro’s Conditions of Carriage in July, unless you are exempt, and now that has once again been mandated as a legal requirement, following the Prime Minister’s announcement on Saturday.

“Face coverings are a simple step that everyone can take to protect you and your family’s health and that of other people in the community. Our frontline teams will continue to remind and encourage customers to wear face coverings when using public transport, and to explain the benefits of doing so.”

The Tyne and Wear Metro has also confirmed that enhanced cleaning regimes are being maintained, such as the use of hospital-grade cleaning fluids.

Customers are also being encouraged to keep windows on Metro trains open, to aid ventilation in the carriages.