Image source, PA Media

Face coverings are no longer legally required in England - but that's not the end of masks, as other parts of the UK have different rules and some shops and transport will still require them.

In England, the legal requirement to wear a face covering, external in enclosed public spaces has ended. But government guidance, external says it "expects and recommends" the continued wearing of masks in crowded areas such as public transport.

In Scotland, masks must still be worn in shops and on public transport - as well as in pubs and restaurants when not seated. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says rules on face coverings will remain in place "in all likelihood" for some time.

In Wales, masks are still legally required in all public indoor areas, apart from when seated to eat or drink. If there is a move to alert-level zero on 7 August, masks will still be required in most public places and on public transport.

In Northern Ireland from 26 July (if plans are approved on 22 July) face coverings will no longer be compulsory in places of worship, or for students in school classrooms. They must still be worn on public transport and in shops and hospitality venues.

You can read more about the rules and guidance for face masks, including on public transport, here.

Caroline Davies
Transport correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Mask wearing has dropped by an estimated 20% in a week inside England’s largest rail stations according to Network Rail.

Last week it was estimated that around 95% of passengers were wearing masks in the 20 biggest stations in England, which has now reduced to an estimated 75%.

The percentage of travellers wearing masks on board may be different.

It is no longer law to wear a mask on public transport in England from today, although ministers have recommended that passengers wear them when services are busy. Wales and Scotland have kept the requirement to wear masks on public transport.

Transport for London has made wearing a mask a condition of carriage on all its services, including the TfL rail and the Tube network. Some mayors followed suit where their powers permitted, but other rail operators have not done the same.

Mick Lynch, leader of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) says: "This slippage in mask wearing is wholly predictable in an environment of government chaos and mixed messaging and is likely to accelerate in the coming days.

"The government need to get a grip and bring back the mandatory enforcement of mask wearing on public transport by law or risk unleashing a further surge in both infections and alerts "

BBC Radio 5 Live

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has recommended a limited group of children be offered jabs to protect them against Covid-19.

This would include those with underlying health conditions and those months away from their 18th birthdays.

Allison Agar, from Redcar, spoke to Stephen Nolan on BBC Radio 5 Live about her son George. He is 17 and has started a petition for all Year 13 students to be given the choice to be fully vaccinated before going on to higher education.

Allison said by the time George went to university he would have had, at the most, one vaccine.

She is worried about him mixing during "super-spreader event" Freshers' Week.

"He’s weeks away from his 18th birthday," she said. "Should he not be considered an adult for the purpose of the vaccine?"

Allison said it wasn’t just about his own health.

"He wants to protect himself but also other people knowing that he will go back into the community," she added.

Listen to 5 Live on the free BBC Sounds app.

What does the end game for Covid look like?published at 14:12 British Summer Time 19 July 2021

14:12 BST 19 July 2021

Michelle Roberts
Health editor, BBC News online

Matt asks: "What will the end game for coronavirus look like - will we be looking for zero cases for a long period of time or will we have to live with this forever?"

Learning to live with it won't look like it has done in the last year.

Since it's been here it's caused so much upheaval for everyone but the idea is eventually it will become something called endemic.

It's something that bubbles up from time to time, it might become seasonal, a bit like flu when you get the worst peaks in the winter and it eases off in the summer.

But it certainly shouldn't look like this for ever and a day where we have to have quite so many restrictions.

It will become something we can live with more easily.

What happened to Sajid Javid, Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak at the weekend?published at 14:06 British Summer Time 19 July 2021

14:06 BST 19 July 2021

Vicki Young
Deputy Political Editor

Health Secretary Sajid Javid tested positive for coronavirus.

Because Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak had had a meeting with Javid they were alerted by NHS Test and Trace.

They then initially said they were part of a pilot scheme, which mean't they didn't have to isolate but could do a test every day instead - unlike most people in that situation

Once that plan was announced there was a lot of anger, followed by a quick U-turn within about an hour and a half.

The prime minister is isolating at Chequers, while the chancellor is isolating in his flat at Number 11 Downing Street. They are both still working.

Will there be a peak in mid-August?published at 13:58 British Summer Time 19 July 2021

13:58 BST 19 July 2021

Colletta Smith
BBC business correspondent

Experts have done some modelling to look at what the different scenarios could be.

If we all completely unlock and pretend that Covid isn't around at all and go back to all of our old behaviours, those experts are saying we could see a peak quite quickly.

Advisers are saying we are not out of the woods yet and if we take some precautions it will slow that peak down.

We are at a sweet spot at the moment with schools closing for the summer holidays and the weather on our side which are levers to use to slow down the rate of infections as well as things like masks.

Now is an opportunity to see how it goes but really the next six weeks will tell us.

Can you be forced to show you have had a vaccine before entering a venue?published at 13:56 British Summer Time 19 July 2021

13:56 BST 19 July 2021

Question from Jan

BBC News

Our business correspondent Colletta Smith says there will be "very few" businesses doing this and there was "a bit of controversy" when the government said venues might ask for customers to prove they are vaccinated for entry.

She says it is a "big headache" for businesses so she thinks "very, very few will make you show any evidence of anything".

We may also see some legal arguments on this in future, she says, if people are refused entry on grounds of not having a vaccine.

But travel is different, there are instances in which you do have to prove you’ve been double jabbed now.

I work in a shop - am I more likely to catch Covid now masks are no longer needed?published at 13:55 British Summer Time 19 July 2021

13:55 BST 19 July 2021

Question from Andrea

Michelle Roberts
Health editor, BBC News online

In places where people are indoors in close proximity or they are shouting or singing there is a higher chance of transmission.

In somewhere like a supermarket we tend to all be further apart, there's ventilation through the air conditioning and it is still recommended people use masks.

It's a difficult one to balance, lots more of us have been vaccinated so that lowers the risk a bit too.

But I do understand the dilemma of working in a shop and not having any control over the behaviour of the people coming in. It's up to us all individually to take responsibility.

Why can nightclubs open but we can't have proms?published at 13:48 British Summer Time 19 July 2021

13:48 BST 19 July 2021

Question from Helen

Colletta Smith
BBC business correspondent

Helen asks why are nightclubs able to open but people couldn't have a graduation or school sports day outside or a prom or other celebration?

Nightclubs claim they've been hit the hardest for the longest - having been completely closed for 16 to 17 months.

So the answer is an economic one because unfortunately you're not going to make any money and no one is running a business on a sports day.

So the government has considered the benefits to the economy and has gone for pubs and nightclubs rather than allowing social gatherings to have less restrictions earlier.

How can the data be fully effective if people are deleting the test and trace app?published at 13:42 British Summer Time 19 July 2021

13:42 BST 19 July 2021

Question from Steve

Our correspondent Michelle Roberts says there is a lot of infection around and no area that is particularly protected.

The more data they get, the easier it is to know what is happening and the app is one good tool to do this.

The app is voluntary, she says.

Why are new cases so high in the UK?published at 13:40 British Summer Time 19 July 2021

13:40 BST 19 July 2021

Michelle Roberts
Health editor, BBC News online

We've had lots of people asking us why are new cases so high in the UK

Unfortunately there's still a lot of us that can catch this infection.

Some people are catching it again even though they've had it in the past - that's rarer.

The vaccines are very good at protecting against hospital cases and deaths, where they're slightly less effective is at stopping any infections.

There's a chance even if you've had both your jabs you can still catch it and pass it on to other people.

Labour leader Keir Starmer has accused the prime minister and chancellor of trying to "dodge" isolation by claiming they had been "miraculously selected" for a testing scheme.

No 10 initially said Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak would avoid self-isolation after being in contact with the health secretary, who has tested positive for coronavirus – by taking part in a daily Covid-testing trial instead.

But they later said they would be isolating. Starmer says they only changed the decision because they had been "busted".

Covid Q&A to begin shortlypublished at 13:25

13:25

Our live Facebook Q&A will begin in the next few minutes.

You can watch it live at the top of this page from 13:30 BST.

Answering your Covid questions on masks, social distancing and the latest easing of coronavirus measures will be:

• Vicki Young, deputy political editor
• Michelle Roberts, health editor for the BBC News website
• Colletta Smith, BBC consumer affairs correspondent

We'll also be bringing you the best bits in text and in video here.

Image source, Bristol City Council

The lifting of most Covid restrictions has left the city of Bristol in the midst of a "perfect storm", its mayor says.

The number of cases of coronavirus in Bristol is the highest it has ever been with 672 per 100,000, well above the rate for England overall of 425. It currently has the 24th highest rate in England.

"We're concerned at the way the national approach has been taken," says Marvin Rees.

"In Bristol we are facing what someone has described as a perfect storm, our numbers are going up, the national restrictions are being loosened at the same time and we have people moving about so much more, which creates the conditions for the virus to transmit.

"We are asking people in Bristol to continue to presume to wear a face covering... continue to keep your distance, keep up with the personal hygiene, hand washing, and if possible meet in open spaces, and if meeting indoors, meet in well-ventilated places."

Still time to submit Covid questionspublished at 13:19 British Summer Time 19 July 2021

13:19 BST 19 July 2021

Our correspondents will be answering your questions live on Facebook at 13:30 BST.

If you have a question about masks, today's rule changes, vaccinations, or anything else, you still have time to submit it.

• Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk
• WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803
• Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay, external

Vicki Young, the BBC's deputy political editor, Michelle Roberts, health editor for BBC News online, and Colletta Smith, our consumer affairs correspondent, will be answering your questions.

You'll be able to watch the Q&A live on this page.

Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy.

The prime minister will hold a Downing Street press conference via video link at 17:00 BST.

Boris Johnson will not be there in person because he is self-isolating after being in contact with the health secretary, who has tested positive for coronavirus.

The PM will be joined by Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Professor Jonathan Van Tam and Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance.

We will bring you live updates during the conference.

Sarah Corker
BBC 5 Live Business Presenter

Businesses can now set their own rules on things like masks and how many people they allow in to shops or pubs at one time.

Legal requirements are being replaced by people being told to make informed decisions and take personal responsibility.

Jane and Chris Ord run gift shop Out Of The Ordinary in a Victorian shopping arcade in Keighley, West Yorkshire.

"Customers aren’t changing their behaviours, people have got used to wearing masks and most of them are continuing to do so," Chris Ord tells BBC 5 Live.

"I’m not signed up to the idea that it’s a magic week and everything is back to normal. But a lot of people need to get out and about and support local businesses, who are still talking lots of precautions."

Louise Fowlds, the owner of Blue Ginger Boutique in Keighley, tells BBC 5 Live that her business will be introducing a series of measures to reassure customers and give them the confidence to get back on the high street.

"On a Monday, we’ll have a quiet hour where people can come and will have to wear a mask," she says.

"It’s a way to put customers at ease who might feel a bit nervous."

Staff will continue to wear visors and the plastic screens are here to stay.

Image source, Reuters

We've got more from Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer now, who accuses the Conservative government of getting "virtually every big decision wrong" in its response to Covid.

He says: "During this pandemic, government decisions have been a matter of life and death - good decisions have had the power to save thousands of lives, bad decisions have led to tens of thousands of unnecessary deaths, so we all need the government to succeed in this pandemic.

That's why supporting the government during the pandemic was the right thing to do for the country, but the truth is the Tories have got virtually every big decision wrong, either in substance, in timing or both."

Starmer says the PM's “chaotic” leadership style is “dangerous” and has “deadly consequences for the country”, “undermines” public safety during the pandemic, and “puts lives at risk”.

He goes on to say that today's lifting of all restrictions in England is “reckless” and “Labour does not support the plan.”

Read our story here.

Image source, PA Media

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has attacked the prime minister and the chancellor over what he calls their attempts to "dodge" self-isolation after their contact with Health Secretary Sajid Javid, who has tested positive for coronavirus.

He says the government's response to Covid had been beset by "chaos, confusion and cronyism at the heart of government".

Starmer says another example of that was demonstrated this weekend "when the prime minister and the chancellor claimed that they had been miraculously selected for a trial so they could avoid isolation - isolation that hundreds of thousands of the rest of us have dutifully taken".

He adds: "Johnson and Sunak's attempts to dodge isolation were crass and insensitive.

"At a time when we need to maintain confidence in self-isolation, parents, workers and businesses will be wondering: 'What on earth is going on in Downing Street?'"

Image source, Reuters

The guidance to work from home came to an end in England today - but passenger numbers on London's transport network suggest most people have not returned to the office.

Tube travel is at 38% of normal pre-Covid levels and unchanged from last week, according to Transport for London.

Bus travel is at 68% of normal demand which is down 4% from last week, partly affected by schools getting to the end of term.

Summer is also generally quieter across the network.

Meanwhile, TfL says compliance with its request for passengers to still wear masks - even though the legal requirement has ended - has been observed by around 85% of passengers.