Only room for 1 in 10 to commute after lockdown – and workers should face away from others and wear a mask

JUST one in ten commuters will be able to commute into work after the lockdown is lifted, Grant Shapps said today.

And commuters should wear a mask, cycle if they can and leave big bags at home as Britain's lockdown is slowly eased.

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Employees who cannot do their job from home have been given the green light to head back to the office, but must keep themselves and others safe from the virus.

Anyone who doesn't absolutely have to take public transport shouldn't - walk, run or cycle your way to work instead, keeping a safe distance from others, new guidance from the Government says.

But it adds if you do have to get on it, then try and face away from other people if you possibly can.

Speaking today, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: "We continue to ask people to only go to work if they cannot do their jobs from home, that's because even as transport begins to revert to a full service, the two-metre distancing rule will only leave effective capacity for one in ten passengers overall.

"One in ten. Therefore, it's crucial that we protect our network by minimising the pressures placed upon it and ensure it's ready to serve those who most need it."

The guidance acknowledges: "There may be situations where you can't keep a suitable distance from people.

"In these cases you should avoid physical contact, try to face away from other people.

"The risk of infection increases the closer you are to another person with the virus and the amount of time you spend in close contact."

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Mr Shapps also revealed the Government is working with travel apps so Brits know if it's too busy to travel safely at certain times.

He said: "In addition we are working with app companies, Google, Microsoft, people like the british company Citymapper or Trainline to work on 'crush data' to be published to enable people to see where the busiest parts of the network are."

If you go on public transport you should wear a mask or face covering and keep two metres from other travellers, it advises.

It is not legally required that commuters do so, but the Government now urges anyone in shops or on public transport to use one if they can't stay apart from others.

But it comes as Wales' health minister said that the Welsh government would not be recommending the wearing of face masks in public.

Mr Vaughan Gething said the use of non-medical masks should only be "a matter of personal choice".

Wales' chief medical officer Dr Frank Atheron also claimed that there may a shortage of clinical masks for people on the front line if the public began to use them too.

It marked yet another moment of confusion as England and the other nations in the UK begin to take different approaches to dealing with the next stage of the pandemic.

FLEXIBLE START TIMES

To cut down any chance of overcrowding, it is also recommended employers should be able to offer more flexible start times to try and avoid everyone piling onto public transport at rush hour.

This will help reduce the crowds and keep travelling as safe as possible - as normal services have not yet resumed and are still reduced.

Wash your hands as soon as you can after travelling anywhere, and before you head out of the front door. If you see hand sanitising stations anywhere, use them, the guidance says.

Using contactless payment wherever you can reduces the risk of contracting any germs, and only take what you really need with you so you don't have to lug about a big bag, and it won't take up space on the trains.

Take note of any signs directing where you should and shouldn't sit, and stick to them, while trying not to touch any surfaces you don't have to.

If you do, do not touch your face and wash or sanitise your hands as soon as you can.

It is wise to plan your journey in advance so you know the route well and don't have to spend any longer on public transport or in a more crowded area than you need to.

If you are driving to and from work, be aware there are likely to be more cyclists and pedestrians about.

And anyone who needs to use airports will need to be aware of mask rules in certain spots, after three British airports now require all passengers to cover their faces.

Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports have decided to impose the conditions, and some airlines are also planning to introduce this as a rule.

But while lockdown is slowly easing the rules still state that if you do not need to leave home to work, or leave home at all, then you shouldn't.

Brits are now able to exercise as much as they wish outdoors, while only with members of their households still and keeping socially distanced.

From tomorrow lockdown weary Brits will be able to meet up with one other person from outside their household - keeping two metres from each other outdoors - as the country continues to battle the virus.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: "Transport operators and staff have been working hard to ensure that people who need to get to work are able to do so, including crucial NHS workers and all those on the frontline of the fight against the virus.

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"Alongside the cycling and walking revolution we are launching, and clear guidance to passengers and operators published today, we can all play our part by following the advice and reducing pressure on public transport.

"If we take these steps, all those who need to use public transport should feel confident that they can do."

Britain's real coronavirus death toll has passed 40,000, concerning new analysis suggests. 

There were 35,044 deaths involving Covid-19 in England and Wales up to May 1, according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

It comes as yesterday ministers revealed a fresh five-step plan to try and keep all workplaces safe from coronavirus. 

Kids could be sent to different schools and class sizes cut in half under plan to exit lockdown, it was revealed yesterday.

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And all school kids in England will be sent back to class for a month before the summer holidays.

Class sizes will be slashed to no more than 15, and pupils sat apart to try to limit any spread of coronavirus.

And No10 revealed that parents who refuse to send their kids back to class will not be slapped with the usual £60 fines for non-attendance.

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