Fears over Freedom Day 'free-for-all': Bosses demand 'clarity' on masks, social-distancing and WFH before July 19 when mandatory rules become 'advisory'

Businesses are calling for urgent clarity over guidance on mask-wearing, social distancing, work from home and so-called vaccine passports before legal restrictions are axed on July 19, amid mounting fears of a 'free-for-all' when mandatory virus measures become advisory.

Trade experts have warned that guidance laid out by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Sajid Javid yesterday 'passes the buck' and imposes 'moral responsibility' onto businesses, particularly hospitality firms which are trying to recover from the cycle of lockdowns.

Rail and bus companies said coverings will not be compulsory when restrictions are lifted, with a spokesman for the Rail Delivery Group announcing that railway travel is 'low risk, with the majority of carriages well ventilated by air conditioning systems or by doors and windows'.

But the Confederation of Passenger Transport, which represents the bus and coach industry, has called for 'clear guidance for operators and customers', while Labour mayors Sadiq Khan and Andy Burnham urged the Government to extend the mask mandate in England beyond July 19.

An online petition urging the Health Secretary to retain the mask mandate on public transport has already received more than 120,000 signatures from people who claim: 'Masks don't just protect the wearer, they protect the people nearby, so even if transport workers continue to wear masks and others don't it puts them at risk.'

Business chiefs are now taking matters into their own hands, with Timpson chairman Sir John Timpson telling the BBC this morning that he will ask staff to wear masks to protect his customers but will not force customers to cover their faces because the mandate will have been scrapped. He also slammed the Government's self-isolation policy, revealing that 140 people are quarantining due to the NHS app.

Center Parcs CEO Martin Dalby told Radio 4's Today programme that staff and guests will be encouraged to wear masks at his resorts because public health is 'absolutely our number one priority' - though he will not be 'policing' the advice, and no one will have to present so-called vaccine passports.

Nightclub owner REKOM UK said it will also not be asking for Covid passports at its doors when it reopens venues on Monday, for the first time since lockdown was imposed in March last year.

Its chief executive Peter Marks said nightclubs will operate in the same way as pubs - 'at full capacity and without any requirement for a negative Covid test, something we believe would create a barrier to both customer enjoyment and getting the industry back on its feet'.

However, ministers are threatening to force nightclub owners and other large venues to insist on 'Covid certification' of vaccination status as a condition of entry if steps to limit the spread of the virus are not taken by firms, according to Government guidance released last night.

Mike Cherry, CEO of the Federation of Small Businesses, said 'safe operation will not be possible without clear workplace guidance', adding that 'there remain very strict rules in place around self-isolation and international travel which will have a severe impact on many businesses'.

The Campaign for Pubs also warned that the Government's 'mixed messages' on masks and so-called vaccine passports 'creates yet more uncertainty for pubs, publicans and for pub customers'. Campaign director Greg Mulholland told MailOnline: 'It isn't fair to suggest that pubs and clubs should impose such measures on customers, when they don't think such measures need to be mandatory.

'If people, customers or staff, wish to wear a mask, they can and should do so, but it's wrong to pass the buck and put the moral responsibility onto businesses for things that the Government are now saying aren't essential. Individual pubs and publicans will make their own decisions, but the majority of pubs will not be imposing non-mandatory requirements onto pub goers, who are keen to get back to pubs finally operating as pubs.'

Anxious people have revealed on Twitter that they are not likely to go to the pub on the so-called Freedom Day, whether they are nervous about catching the virus or irritated by being required to wear masks upon entry.

However, legal experts told MailOnline that though the axing of mandates is a 'legal grey area' for companies, bosses would be 'well within their rights' to enforce mask and distancing policies of their own if they are satisfied that the measures prevent the spread of coronavirus.

It comes as Downing Street hinted that it could impose another winter lockdown if the vaccines prove to be less effective at preventing serious illness and death than first thought. At a press conference last night, the Prime Minister dropped his claim the easing would be 'irreversible' and said that coronavirus restrictions could return in September, adding: 'We must rule nothing out.'

As the coronavirus crisis enters its next crucial phase, it emerged:

Timpson chairman Sir John Timpson said that he will be asking staff to wear masks and encourage customers to cover their faces to minimise the risk of virus outbreaks. Right: Mike Cherry, CEO of the Federation of Small Businesses, said 'safe operation will not be possible without clear workplace guidance'

Center Parcs chief executive Martin Dalby said mask-wearing will be recommended at his resorts. Right: Peter Marks, CEO of nightclub owner REKOM UK, which will not be asking for Covid passports at its doors when it reopens venues on Monday

A server wearing a face mask pours a pint of Camden Pale Ale inside a pub in Mayfair, London

Rail and bus companies have said that face coverings will not be compulsory when Covid restrictions are lifted on July 19 over fears it will make passengers think transport is unsafe

The coronavirus restrictions which will be removed from July 19

Boris Johnson last night warned Covid curbs could return in September if new freedoms are abused

Can pubs insist on drinkers wearing masks AFTER July 19? Lawyers call move to guidance 'legal grey area' but believe firms are 'within their rights' to impose their own mask rules'

Adam Wagner of Doughty Street Chambers said: 'I think this is a legal grey area, very badly managed and badly thought through by the Government'

Adam Wagner of Doughty Street Chambers said: 'I think this is a legal grey area, very badly managed and badly thought through by the Government. We've had mask mandates for more than a year now, and moving from legal mandate to guidance next week is bound to create all sorts of confusion.

'We don't have a test case for whether companies have the right to insist on customers and guests wearing masks, but I reckon they would be well within their rights to do so under existing - already pretty stringent - health and safety laws.

'The Health and Safety in the Workplace Act requires businesses to make their workplaces safe for all their staff. Employers have to put in fire safety measures, for instance, or make sure that their kitchens are clean - and they will have to ensure that staff are adequately protected against the spread of a highly infectious disease, especially when the prevalence of that virus is in fact high in the community, as Covid is.

'For example, when a bookshop owner thinks about making the store safe, they will be thinking about how close people are to each other. To stop people from getting crammed, they will have to consider distancing measures, limiting the number of people in the shop, and insist on a mask policy.

'If you think about pubs, for instance - to ensure staff and customers are prevented from physical harm, landlords employ security staff. If it is decided that someone or some people are likely to hurt others, they will decide to chuck them out, and they are well within their rights to. The same could be true of masks.

'It would be unpopular among the militantly anti-mask crowd, and no doubt they would make a fuss about it, but I think there's strength in numbers. If the Government doesn't keep the mandate in place, we may well find that many if not most firms will put a policy of mask-wearing in place.'

Speaking to the Today programme this morning, Sir John said: 'We never tell our people what to do, we trust them to do what they think is right, but we will certainly advise them that what they should be doing as far as masks is concerned is to do the right thing to look after our customers, and that means wearing a mask when customers are in the shop.

'Also we've got protective screens as well to do just that because the wearing of masks is not mainly to protect yourself, it's the protect other people and I think we've still got to do that even though there's no legal requirement to do so.'

Asked if he will be telling customers to wear masks, he said: 'No. I don't think under the way it's going to be from next Monday that we've got any right or we shouldn't expect them to do so, it's entirely up to the customers. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't wear masks.

'I think that probably it's the right thing for us to do. We're going back to where we were before, it is I think right that businesses run their affairs the way they think they should do, rather than being told to do everything the way the Government wants. I don't want to live in a world in the future where we're told by the Government exactly what to do.

'I think as far as that's concerned it's a step in the right direction, but I think we've got to take note of the mood... that we're far from out of the woods yet. We've all got to be very careful but it's left to us to do it and I think we've got to be responsible and take the lead from the tone that's being set from the top.'

Sir John also took aim at the Government's self-isolation policy, adding: 'We've got currently 140 people down in our level of colleagues we really need to have, and that's mainly due to isolation, whether its parents who've got to be home to look after their children or people who have been forced to isolate by the Test and Trace app.'

Government documents published last year indicated that the test, trace and isolate system will remain until at least next year because it will apparently be 'necessary through the autumn and winter' - despite mounting alarm over rising numbers of healthy people being doomed to house-arrest.

Speaking after Sir John, Mr Dalby said: 'The approach from Center Parcs will be to recommend that both our employees and our customers do wear face coverings when in indoor settings. That's the advice that we're going to give them. We won't be policing it... but we will be recommending that our customers and our employees do wear them, in indoor settings.'

Asked if he would set requirements for Covid passes, he said emphatically: 'No, no Covid pass.'

When it was pointed out to him that he was inviting a risk of health and safety prosecution if he did not mandate face masks and Covid passes, Mr Dalby said: 'This is why Center Parcs is taking a very cautious approach towards restrictions.

'We're not going to open up everything from next Monday, it's going to be gradual and we will keep it under constant review. The health and safety of both our employees and our guests is absolutely our number one priority. So there will still be limited numbers of activities, limited numbers in terms of restaurants and cafes, and we will take a gradual approach to this.'

Mr Cherry of the Federation of Small Businesses said: 'Small businesses want to see the new guidance being proposed by the Government, to replace the legal rules, and the proposed ideas for voluntary certification and mask use in crowded indoor settings.

'While we all want this moment to be irreversible, there is a potential for a challenging winter and so this summer needs to be a season of strong, safe trading. So many businesses have craved this since the start of this crisis and the stop-start restrictions.

'Today we are asking the public to please respect the 'House Rules' that small firms put in place for covid-security. Small business owners and their staff deserve to be able to work free from intimidation and we would ask everyone to please respect that businesses are trying their best, and to treat those who run and work in them with respect - as we know the vast majority of the public will do.

'So if table service continues, or you're asked to keep using face masks then we ask you to please respect these decisions.

'Crucially, safe operation will not be possible without clear workplace guidance. We want to see small businesses able to make the choices and decisions that will benefit them the most as they get back on their feet, while protecting the health of their workforce as well as customers.

'We want all small businesses and their customers to feel safe in how they shop and operate, and this includes allowing small businesses the space to make the right decisions about their premises. We cannot allow removing legal guidance to create a free for all, with any voluntary guidance ignored, which is why it is vital that clarity around the new state of play is given immediately.

'The cost of this pandemic has been colossal. The economic burden small businesses have shouldered has been unparalleled in modern economic history. Yet despite all the success of reopening and the vaccination programme, next Monday is not a 'terminus date', we are moving into a new phase of managing Covid-19 but there remain very strict rules in place around self-isolation and international travel which will have a severe impact on many businesses, with potentially hundreds of thousands unable to carry out their day-to-day work and firms struggling to operate at all.'

However, workers unions slammed the Government's 'dangerous mixed messaging' and warned that the decision to end legal restrictions 'has created confusion'. Unite national officer for public transport Bobby Morton said: 'It is deeply regrettable that the Government has pigheadedly decided to continue with their ill-conceived decision to end the requirement to wear masks on public transport.

'With the Government now saying people are 'expected and recommended' to wear masks but no longer having to do so by law, it has created confusion and it is guilty of dangerous mixed messaging. As a consequence Unite has a duty to ensure our members are fully aware of their rights and don't knowingly risk their health and safety at work.

Government guidance will advise that passengers should wear masks if services are busy

Transport secretary Grant Shapps has said it will be up to rail and bus operators to decide whether to make masks mandatory for passengers or not in six days time when rules are eased

A YouGov survey found that half of Britons are not confident that the remaining legal curbs will be lifted on July 19

The poll, which was conducted after the Government extended lockdown by another month, found that three-quarters of older people will continue to socially distancing after restrictions are lifted. More than half of people aged 18-24 said they would wear masks on public transport and shops, and would also continue to physically distance

No10 hints of ANOTHER winter lockdown as leading doctors attack 'irresponsible' move to press ahead with Freedom Day on July 19... but SAGE adviser says nation can battle 'miserable winter' without needing to shut down

No10 has hinted there could be another lockdown to tackle coronavirus at the end of the year, even though top scientists believe such drastic action may be unnecessary.

In another sign of the Government's changing tune on whether restrictions will be gone for good after 'Freedom Day' next week, minister Steve Barclay said 'no one knows' how effective vaccines will be in the winter, meaning some measures may need to be reintroduced.

But his comments came as one of SAGE's own advisers admitted he doesn't see No10 needing to resort to drastic lockdowns again this winter.

Professor Calum Semple, a paediatrician at Liverpool University, warned of a 'miserable winter' ahead because of the mix of Covid with flu and other 'respiratory viruses that we didn't experience in the last year or so'.

However, he confessed that he doesn't 'foresee the lockdowns or the school suspensions that we've seen' and that curbs including mask-wearing could be reintroduced in order to contain any winter wave.

'Bus drivers have been in the frontline since the pandemic began and have played a key role in keeping communities functioning. They deserve to be treated better than this by the government. If workers do feel that they cannot work safely, this will inevitably cause delays and disruptions in services. I hope that the general public appreciates that this is a problem entirely of the Government's making.'

In a statement the CPT said: 'We expect that many people, especially in busy places, will follow the Prime Minister's call to continue to wear a face covering as a courtesy to others. Passengers though will find it difficult to understand why the Prime Minister has singled out public transport as somewhere to wear a face covering when a range of other activities share its characteristics.

'We now need to see clear guidance for operators and customers but, in the absence of regulations, it is important that we respect everyone's right to choose whether to wear a face covering. The industry is doing everything it can to ensure people can travel with confidence.

'Operators will continue to deliver enhanced cleaning regimes, ensure buses are well ventilated and provide tools such as apps to allow customers to see how busy their bus is and help plan their journey in advance.'

Lawyers have told MailOnline today that bosses could be 'well within their rights' to insist on mask-wearing and physical distancing for customers and guests as well as staff - even without mandates in place. Adam Wagner of Doughty Street Chambers said: 'I think this is a legal grey area, very badly managed and badly thought through by the Government. We've had mask mandates for more than a year now, and moving from legal mandate to guidance next week is bound to create all sorts of confusion.

The approach to face coverings is set to become a matter of personal choice from July 19, with Government ministers placing the responsibility with members of the public while still urging them to wear masks in busy spaces.

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'The test is this: is expecting and recommending people to wear face masks enough to give those people the confidence that they can go out and about on public transport safely?

Degrees of freedom: What the rules will say after July 19

'I don't think it is and that is why one person's freedom day is another person's fear day. Many people will feel fearful next week.' He said that 'one person's choice affects another person's physical and mental health'.

Earlier this week, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said people would be 'irresponsible' not to wear a mask in a crowded public place.

In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, he said: 'If someone's doing that, frankly, they're just being irresponsible. They're not playing their role as a responsible citizen.'

London TravelWatch director Emma Gibson said: 'Our research with Transport Focus showed that half are still saying that they won't use public transport unless social distancing is in place, while 56 per cent say they won't use public transport unless passengers are required to wear a face covering.

'And many people say they will continue to wear face coverings whether they are required to or not. Going forward, passengers need very clear information to tell them when they should be wearing a face mask.

'As restrictions are relaxed it is going to be really important that passengers are respectful and considerate towards each other, because although some people will be happy to tear off their face masks, many people are still very worried about travelling.

'Train companies and TfL can play their part by providing the best possible, localised travel information about the busyness of their train or bus, so that people can make informed choices about when they feel most comfortable to travel.'

Meanwhile, Sadiq Khan is still considering a bid to force passengers to keep wearing masks on trains, Tube and buses in London.

In a statement, Mr Khan said yesterday: 'It is welcome that the Government is strengthening its messaging to say that people are expected and recommended to wear face coverings on public transport, but the simplest and safest option is for the Government to retain the existing national legal requirement for face coverings on public transport.'

It is believed the mayor remains in urgent talks with Transport for London over whether face masks will be compulsory across their network in the capital.

Asked on Sky News about the easings from July 19, vaccine minister Nadhim Zahawi said: 'I think it is important that we remain cautious and careful and the guidelines that we will set out will demonstrate that - including guidelines that people are expected to wear masks in indoor, enclosed spaces.'

But the decision to make it a matter of personal choice has been heavily criticised.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham told the Observer: 'The government is simply wrong to frame everything from here as a matter of pure personal choice. It is not. Many people who are vulnerable to the virus have to use public transport and do their food shopping in person.

Britain today recorded 50 Covid deaths, while cases jumped by a quarter in a week to 36,660

Masks 'probably won't do any good' after July 19 because not enough people will wear them, top SAGE expert claims

Wearing a mask after Freedom Day 'probably won't do any good', one of the Government's top scientific advisers claimed today.

Professor Graham Medley accepted there was still a lack of evidence about how useful masks are but said it was his personal belief they only work when 'everybody' wears one.

From July 19, people in England will no longer be legally required to wear a face covering on public transport or in shops, restaurants and other indoor spaces.

But ministers and scientific advisers are still encouraging people to don a mask in crowded spaces where the risk of Covid is higher.

Professor Medley told the BBC Radio 4 Today Programme: 'I understand the Government's reluctance to actually mandate it.

'But on the other hand, if it's not mandated it probably won't do any good.'

Professor Medley is the chairman of SAGE's modelling group SPI-M, whose forecasts pointed towards a smaller wave this autumn and gave ministers the confidence to press ahead with the final unlocking.

He added: 'I personally will wear a mask to protect other people. I think it's quite a reasonable thing to do.

'It doesn't have a huge imposition in terms of economic impact or in terms of freedom, and I think there is evidence to suggest it does good, but only if everybody does it.'

'So I think that, without the mandation, then we end up with a situation where even if the majority of people, let's say 70 per cent of people wear a mask, will that actually do any good because of the 30 per cent who don't? I think that is something which still needs to be determined and discussed.'

'That is why the wearing of face coverings in these settings should have remained mandatory. I will be strongly encouraging the people of Greater Manchester to continue to wear masks on public transport out of respect for others.'

Shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth said: 'Given Sajid Javid now considers it irresponsible to not wear masks then it would be equally irresponsible for his government to carry on with the plan to lift mask requirements while infections are heading to 100,000 a day.

'Reopening the economy must be done in a safe and sustainable way.

'That means continued mask wearing, support for increased ventilation standards in premises, decent sick pay, allowing people to continue working from home and ensuring all can access testing rather than introducing charges for lateral flow tests as Sajid Javid now proposes.'

It comes as Mr Johnson confirmed most restrictions will be axed on Monday but at a gloomy Downing Street press conference insisted caution was vital.

He added: 'I cannot say this powerfully or emphatically enough - this pandemic is not over. This disease coronavirus continues to carry risks for you and for your family. We cannot simply revert instantly from Monday, July 19, to life as it was before Covid.'

Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty said families should still 'avoid unnecessary meetings' with other households with normal life returning only 'very slowly'.

Mr Johnson called for continued mask-wearing in busy indoor settings such as trains, supermarkets and cinemas. And he urged firms not to order staff back to their desks despite the lifting of the formal 'work from home guidance'.

The Prime Minister also dropped his claim that the unlocking would be 'irreversible'. Asked whether restrictions could return, he said he hoped they would not but added: 'We must rule nothing out.'

Mark Harper, chairman of the Covid Recovery Group of Tory MPs, said even the limited taste of freedom could prove short-lived. He added: 'Enjoy summer if you can. Winter is coming - and I fear that Covid restrictions will return.'

Mr Johnson said the vaccine programme made next week's unlocking possible by severely weakening the link between cases and deaths.

But he stressed it was vital not to 'tear the pants out of it', adding: 'Because the legal restrictions have come off, it should not be taken as an invitation by everybody to have a great jubilee and freedom from any kind of caution. We don't expect that the whole country will return to their desks as one from Monday.'

Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith warned that 'Freedom Day' was being watered down at the behest of nervous experts. In the Commons, Mr Javid acknowledged there were risks in reopening next week, but said delaying the measures could push cases into the autumn and winter, when the NHS would struggle to cope.

And he said ministers had to consider the costs of keeping restrictions in place, including those to the economy and mental health. The remaining measures and guidance will be reviewed by September 30 at the latest.

Professor Whitty said there was no clear evidence that a delay to reopening now would make a difference but 'what is going to make a difference is going slowly'.

Matthew Fell of the CBI welcomed the reopening but added: 'It is now mission critical that the Government, with the support of business, does all it can to build confidence in the reopening.' He urged ministers to encourage the use of public transport, support workplace testing and reduce self-isolation for the double-jabbed.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer condemned the decision to lift almost all remaining coronavirus restrictions in England at the same time. He said: 'With infection rates still going up at the rate they are going up that is still reckless, I am afraid. We need a safe way to come through this.

'The Government wants to put the country in a car without a seatbelt to get us as quickly as possible to the end of the roadmap. Lifting all protections at the same time is just wrong.'

Earlier, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said going ahead with stage four of the roadmap was a 'step closer to the life we used to live', adding that 'we all want this to be a one-way journey'.

'The case numbers will get a lot worse before they get better,' he said. 'But we do not believe that infection rates will put unsustainable pressure on the NHS.'

He added: 'This is the right time to get our nation closer to normal life... To those who say ''why take this step now'' I say ''if not now, when?'' There will never be a perfect time to take this step.'

Nightclubs, which have been closed since the first lockdown in March last year, will be allowed to open their doors but will be encouraged to use certification to minimise the risks. Other 'large events' will also be encouraged to use vaccine passports, with customers able to prove their status using the NHS app.

The Government will 'expect and recommend' the continued use of face masks in crowded areas and on public transport.

The return of employees to the workplace, seen as key for helping town and city centre businesses which rely on commuters, is not expected to happen overnight, with firms encouraged to take a gradual approach.

Mr Javid also warned there are no guarantees the freedoms will stay for good, saying the Government will 'come down hard at the moment we detect a new variant'. He reiterated that cases are rising and could reach 100,000 a day later in the summer - with the average number of daily cases currently more than 26,000, which has doubled over the past 11 days.

He said hospital admissions are also rising but said they are lower in this wave compared to a previous wave, noting people over the age of 65 - who are more likely to be double-jabbed - accounted for 31 per cent of Covid admissions last week compared to 61 per cent in January.

He went on: 'Even as we look to ease restrictions, we will maintain tough measures at the borders and we will expand our capacity for genomic sequencing … so that we can come down hard at the moment we detect a new variant.'

The announcements were broadly welcomed by the stricken hospitality industry. But Labour condemned the Government's 'high risk' and 'fatalistic' approach.

What Covid 'freedoms' will mean for YOU: Do I have to wear a mask at the supermarket? Can I order at the bar? Will I need two jabs to go to a nightclub? And what about WFH?

With Freedom Day set to go ahead next Monday, businesses across England are preparing to wave farewell to most mandatory coronavirus restrictions.

But the Prime Minister's cautious approach means the legal end to rules such as face masks and social distancing does not mean an immediate return to normality.

For Britons are still expected to be asked by firms to wear masks in many walks of life such as while shopping in supermarkets and travelling on public transport.

And venues such as nightclubs are being urged to require 'Covid certification' as a condition of entry, although some have already said they will not do this.

The movement towards businesses deciding what is best for them will lead to a very different approach to the blanket rules the country has become used to.

And Sage member Professor Graham Medley said mask-wearing 'probably won't do any good' when the Government ends the legal requirement for the protection.

Here, MailOnline looks at what life will look like in England from next Monday:

MASKS

LAW: All laws mandating the wearing of masks will be scrapped

ADVICE: The Prime Minister said people should continue to wear masks in confined spaces where they might meet people they would not ordinarily meet. Guidance published last night said: 'Government expects and recommends that people wear face coverings in crowded areas such as public transport.'

SOCIAL DISTANCING

LAW: The two-metre rule is officially being lifted on 19 July, as well as the rule of six which restricts how many can gather together

ADVICE: In fact, people are now being strongly advised to 'minimise the number, proximity and duration of social contacts'. Chris Whitty even suggested that people should avoid 'unnecessary meetings' - and said everyone should continue to abide by 'hands, face, space'.

SUPERMARKETS

Sainsbury's - The chain told MailOnline it is 'working through the details of the government's announcement on the easing of restrictions and will keep our customers and colleagues updated'.

Morrisons - The supermarket is believed to be waiting for the Government's plan and workplace guidance to be published, which will then reviewed in line with its own policies before any decision is made.

Asda - The supermarket said on Twitter today that 'as per government guidance we will encourage shoppers to wear a mask, however this will be down to the individual as to whether or not they wish to wear a mask when shopping in store'.

Co-op - The chain is yet to make a decision on masks, with a spokesman telling MailOnline it is 'reviewing our policy in light of the new Government announcement'.

Iceland - An Iceland spokesman told MailOnline today that it was 'currently reviewing our policies in line with the latest updates from the Government on the easing of restrictions, and will continue to do so as further updates are provided'. It added: 'The safety of our customers and colleagues will continue to be our priority as restrictions are eased and we will update on any changes as we are able to do so.'

Waitrose - The supermarket told MailOnline that bosses are 'awaiting Government guidance and we will work through that when we have it'.

Tesco - Not yet responded.

Aldi - Not yet responded.

Lidl - Not yet responded.

Marks & Spencer - Not yet responded.

RESTAURANTS AND CAFES

Nandos - The chain told MailOnline that masks 'will be worn at the discretion of staff and customers' and hand sanitiser 'will remain on offer at every restaurant'. It said the rule of six will no longer apply 'so larger tables will be allowed' and it will start accepting walk-ups again, but till safety screens and enhanced cleaning will remain.

Mitchells & Butlers - A spokesman told MailOnline that it looks forward to 'trading again without restrictions and at full capacity, allowing our business to continue its recovery from the devastating impacts of the pandemic.' He added: 'As we progress to trading without legal restrictions guest and team member safety will remain our top priority. We will confirm what our policies will be from July 19 in due course.'

McDonalds - The chain told MailOnline it was not yet able to share any updates.

KFC - Not yet responded.

Burger King - Not yet responded.

Pizza Express - Not yet responded.

Costa - Not yet responded.

Caffe Nero - Not yet responded.

Starbucks - Not yet responded.

Pret - Not yet responded.

Wagamama - Not yet responded.

PUBS

Star Pubs - Bosses are waiting on the detailed government workplace guidance which is expected later today, and it will then be up to staff and customers to make their own decisions on face masks and socially distancing. Most of Star Pubs are leased and tenanted, which means it will effectively be up to each pub to decide.

Youngs - The chain told MailOnline today: 'We will no longer ask staff or customers to wear masks. We will leave it to them to decide for themselves to or not to wear masks. We will be lifting social distancing in pubs and operating in line with all the latest government guidance.' The pubs will also maintain additional cleaning protocols and other measures such as increased ventilation, with windows and doors open 'at every opportunity'.

Wetherspoon - Not yet responded.

Greene King - Not yet responded.

Fullers - Not yet responded.

City Pubs - Not yet responded.

Stonegate - Not yet responded.

TRANSPORT

Trains - The Rail Delivery Group, which represents UK train operators, such as Avanti West Coast, TransPennine Express and Southeastern, told MailOnline today that rail companies 'will ask people to follow the government guidance and, out of respect for others, wear face coverings if an indoor setting is busy'. A spokesman added that train travel is 'low risk, with the majority of carriages well ventilated by air conditioning systems or by doors and windows'. She added that as restrictions lift, they will continue carrying out extra cleaning and providing better information about how busy services are, so that 'passengers can travel with confidence'.

Buses and coaches - The Confederation of Passenger Transport, which represents the bus and coach industry including National Express and Megabus, has called for clearer regulations from the Government but said in the absence of that, passengers' choices will be respected. A spokesman told MailOnline: 'We expect that many people, especially in busy places, will follow the Prime Minister's call to continue to wear a face covering as a courtesy to others.' But they added that passengers 'will find it difficult to understand why the Prime Minister has singled out public transport as somewhere to wear a face covering when a range of other activities share its characteristics'. A spokesman continued: 'We now need to see clear guidance for operators and customers but, in the absence of regulations, it is important that we respect everyone's right to choose whether to wear a face covering. The industry is doing everything it can to ensure people can travel with confidence. Operators will continue to deliver enhanced cleaning regimes, ensure buses are well ventilated and provide tools such as apps to allow customers to see how busy their bus is and help plan their journey in advance.'

National Express - A spokesman told MailOnline: 'We are all responsible for keeping each other safe. We are advising customers to follow the guidance for the relevant country they are travelling in. We will ask them to continue to be considerate of others and respect their personal choices.'

Transport for London - No decision announced yet for mask wearing on the Overground, Underground or bus services in London. TfL has not responded. Mayor Sadiq Khan has been considering a bid to force passengers to keep wearing masks.

Free Now - A spokesman for the car ride-hailing app told MailOnline: 'We are working with regulators to understand if there will still be industry-wide requirements on mask-wearing from Jul 19. Whilst we await this, we will recommend face masks to customers and drivers but give them both the choice on what to do, leaving them with the freedom to agree what is comfortable for them during a ride.'

Uber - Not yet responded.

Ola - Not yet responded.

Bolt - Not yet responded.

Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association - Not yet responded.

PERSONAL SERVICES

National Hair & Beauty Federation - Richard Lambert, chief executive of the NHBF, told MailOnline that the industry group supports the Government over it making the wearing of face masks will be recommended but not mandatory, for close contact services where a mask does not get in the way of the service being delivered. But he added: 'Everyone will still need to think about how to reduce the risk to themselves and to others. If salons or individual hair and beauty professionals prefer for clients to keep their masks on for some or all of their treatments, it's important that that they make this clear before their appointment to avoid any awkwardness. This could be through a notice on the website or social media, as well as telling them directly when they book.'

Toni & Guy - Not yet responded.

Rush Hair - Not yet responded.

HOLIDAYS AND HOTELS

Centre Parcs - Center Parcs chief executive Martin Dalby said today that staff and guests will be encouraged to wear masks at his resorts because public health is 'absolutely our number one priority'. However, he also told Radio 4's Today programme that he will not be 'policing' the advice, and no one will have to present vaccine passports. Mr Dalby added: 'We're not going to open up everything from next Monday, it's going to be gradual and we will keep it under constant review. The health and safety of both our employees and our guests is absolutely our number one priority. So there will still be limited numbers of activities, limited numbers in terms of restaurants and cafes, and we will take a gradual approach to this.'

Radisson - The hotel chain said 'local regulations' will be followed on measures such as wearing face masks, with a spokesman telling MailOnline: 'Specifically for the UK this means that, in accordance with the guidelines issued by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday July 12, Radisson Hotel Group will continue to recommend face masks for its employees in indoor situations.'

Butlins - Not yet responded.

Haven Holidays - Not yet responded.

Hilton - Not yet responded.

Marriott - Not yet responded.

Travelodge - Not yet responded.

Premier Inn - Not yet responded.

Holiday Inn - Not yet responded.

Novotel - Not yet responded.

Crowne Plaza - Not yet responded.

Ibis - Not yet responded.

Best Western - Not yet responded.

Mercure - Not yet responded.

WORKING FROM HOME

LAW: The long-standing government 'work from home' order is being officially scrapped.

ADVICE: The PM urged people not to rush back to the office, saying he did not expect the whole country to return on Monday. The guidance states: 'Whilst government is no longer instructing people to work from home if they can, government would expect and recommend a gradual return over the summer.'

NatWest - The bank told MailOnline it will 'be inviting a small number of colleagues in England to return to the office' from next Monday, and will 'encourage colleagues in England to continue wearing masks in our buildings and branches'. It will also 'maintain social distancing measures in our buildings and branches for colleagues at this time'. A NatWest Group spokesman said: 'Our current plan is to start to implement a phased return to the workplace, with our priority workers returning from 19 July, and to adapt to our new ways of working over the summer, with the majority of UK staff expected to be back in the office in September. This is dependent on government and public health advice, across the different jurisdictions in which we operate which we will continue to monitor closely.' The bank's 'priority workers' are defined as 'those who are key workers, in regulated roles, where there is a client need, and people who need to work in the office for wellbeing reasons'. It added: 'Under our new ways of working framework, we expect around 87 per cent of our colleagues to adopt a hybrid working pattern.'

London Stock Exchange - The LSE said it is not implementing any changes to its Covid-19 guidance from next Monday, although it does expect more people to return to its UK offices from September.

Amazon - Amazon is not implementing any changes to its working guidance from next Monday, although it does have return to office guidance for corporate employees which is set to come in from September. This states that its new baseline will be three days a week in the office, leaving flexibility to work remotely up to two days a week. Separately, corporate employees will have the choice to work up to four weeks per year fully remote from a domestic location, without the expectation that they will commute into an office during that time.

Vodafone - A Vodafone spokesman told MailOnline that the company intends to welcome its UK office-based teams back from September. She added: We will be taking a flexible approach, with a combination of home-working and time together in offices. We aim to work in a way which offers the best of both virtual and office-based working. The extent of virtual working will vary by role, and our offices will evolve to become places where we can come together when needed for connection, collaboration and creation. Our priority, of course, is to keep everyone safe, and we'll adapt our plans if we need to as circumstances change.'

Goldman Sachs - The company has not sent any new communication to staff since a memo at the start of May, in which the company said 60 per cent of its London staff had been into the office at least once in the previous month. Its offices at Plumtree Court have been open throughout the pandemic and since the lockdown has been lifted, it has seen a gradual uptick in numbers of staff returning. Now, the company is at roughly 40 to 45 per cent staff back in its London office, which works out at about 2,300 employees. It has also asked staff for their vaccination status.

British American Tobacco - A BAT spokesman told MailOnline: 'Our number one priority continues to be to safeguard the health and wellbeing of our employees and we are following UK Government workplace guidelines. Once the Health and Safety Executive has released its updated COVID secure workplace guidance, we will take some time to understand what is needed to ensure a safe return to site.'

Aviva - The insurance company told MailOnline that they 'look forward to welcoming our colleagues back into our offices', adding: 'We expect to see more of our people returning and will encourage them to remain aware of what they can do to reduce the risk of the virus spreading. Our focus continues to be on the safety and wellbeing of our people, customers and communities.' The company also said that the 'vast majority of people at Aviva want to work flexibly in future'. It continued: 'Our people need to work in ways that deliver the best outcomes for our business and our customers. That will involve some time in an office for most people, for example for team meetings and when work benefits from face-to-face collaboration. This will vary by role and we're supporting leaders to help their teams navigate this transition to smart working. We're reshaping our office space to reflect this, with more areas for breakouts and collaboration and less space dedicated to rows of desks.'

Santander - The bank has decided that its current working from home arrangements for non-branch roles will not change before September 6, but added: 'There will be more opportunities for colleagues to work from an office as restrictions are eased across the UK.' It is planning for a phased return in two months' time and will be maintaining safety measures such as hand sanitiser and temperature scanning.

Nationwide - The building society said that throughout the pandemic, it has kept its offices open for those that needed to come in. A spokesman told MailOnline: 'N ow that the message from the government has changed, we will slowly open more space and continue to monitor the guidelines. Back in March we announced our Work Anywhere approach that gives colleagues the flexibility to work in a way that's best for them. We know that just 6 per cent of colleagues want to work in an office full time and we'll continue to embrace this new way of working to ensure it works for both Nationwide and our colleagues.' The company added that it will 'monitor and review colleague feedback, office capacity and the guidance ensuring that people are given enough space and are able to respect peoples choices and ensure colleagues feel comfortable'. The spokesman also said: 'Colleagues in our offices can wear face coverings if they choose to.'

HSBC - Not yet responded.

Barclays - Not yet responded.

Lloyds - Not yet responded.

Standard Chartered - Not yet responded.

Facebook - Not yet responded.

Google - Not yet responded.

Apple - Not yet responded.

Unilever - Not yet responded.

Associated British Foods - Not yet responded.

GlaxoSmithKline - Not yet responded.

Reckitt Benckiser Group - Not yet responded.

Diageo - Not yet responded.

BT - Not yet responded.

O2 - Not yet responded.

EE - Not yet responded.

IAG - Not yet responded.

PWC - Not yet responded.

COVID PASSPORTS

LAW: The public had been told that Covid status certification would not be needed over the summer, but that they could be introduced over the autumn and winter

ADVICE: Owners of busy indoor venues such as nightclubs and busy city-centre bars have been told to consider bringing in the passports. The government will 'encourage' businesses and large events to use the NHS Covid Pass in 'high risk settings' - that is, where people are likely to be in 'close proximity to others outside their household'. Few details have been given, but the guidance could cover theatres, cinemas, indoor concerts and exhibitions. The government many consider mandating certification in certain venues at a later date.

Night Time Industries Association - Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, said the decision to go ahead with the reopening was 'the correct one', adding that the Government were 'right not to mandate the use of Covid status certification systems'. He continued: 'Much of the night-time economy relies on spontaneous consumers and by permitting businesses to opt out the Government have allowed for this trade to continue.'

Proud - Alex Proud, owner of Proud nightclubs, said the plan for Covid passports was 'deeply worrying and frustrating because it's discriminatory against younger people who are less likely to have been able to have the vaccinations.' He told the BBC: 'We emphasise that we've invested in sanitation and we feel these measures are adequate rather than overly authoritarian Covid passports.'

Pryzm, Bar&Beyond, Eden and Fiction - Peter Marks, chief executive of Rekom UK, which owns 42 nightclubs including chains Pryzm, Bar&Beyond, Eden and Fiction, said he was 'thrilled' to be able to reopen next Monday 'at full capacity and without any requirement for a negative Covid test, something we believe would create a barrier to both customer enjoyment and getting the industry back on its feet'. He said reopened nightclubs will operate as pubs are currently running.

Music festivals - Paul Reed, chief executive of the Association of Independent Festivals, said the body was working with the relevant Government departments on the publication of guidance to ensure that festivals can reopen safely this summer. He added: 'Organisers and local authorities alike can have confidence in their decision making and measures introduced – including Covid certification where considered appropriate. Ensuring the safety of audiences and risk mitigation has always been central to what festival organisers do each year and it will continue to be more so than ever as we begin to emerge from the pandemic.'

Live music events - Greg Parmley, chief executive of music industry trade body Live, said the live music industry had been 'devastated' by the pandemic, losing over 85 per cent of its income in 2020. He added: 'We are delighted to finally start to reopen on July 19. Being able to reopen safely has always been extremely important to us, which is why the industry has participated in and paid for, a number of Government pilot events. We are experts at managing risk and know that as restrictions ease, public health needs could also change at varying rates across the country. We were supportive of mandatory Covid certification for large events to allow us to reopen and now expect those large events, where organisers feel it is necessary, to move forward with certification to build customer confidence.' He also said that the industry needs a 'Government-backed insurance scheme to provide us with financial security' amid uncertainty over whether any restrictions will have to return.

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