Youngsters ditch masks in droves: Poll reveals just 46% of 18-24-year-olds are wearing face-coverings after 'Freedom Day' compared to 64% at start of June

A new poll by YouGov suggests the use of face masks among young people has slumped since 'freedom day' on July 19.

The survey found 46 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds said they wore a face mask in a public place in the last two weeks, compared to 58 per cent on July 16 and 64 per cent on June 2.

Meanwhile, the survey of 1,742 British adults between July 21 and 22 found other age groups were still wearing face coverings at around the same rate.

A poll by YouGov suggests use of face masks among young people has slumped since 'freedom day' saw the relaxation of restrictions. Pictured: Latitude Festival this weekend

Groups of maskless young revellers the reopening of England's nightlife after Freedom Day

Data shows 69 per cent of all Britons say they wore a face mask in the last two weeks, compared to 71 per cent on July 16 and 73 per cent on June 2.

YouGov also said young people were less likely to be fully vaccinated and more likely to have disabled their NHS Covid-19 app.#

The researcher said that while last week 38 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds had been avoiding crowded places, this has now fallen to 26 per cent.

Older generations showed little to no change in their behaviour towards crowded spaces. 

Meanwhile, the proportion of Britons thinking the Government is handling Covid-19 well fell from 41 per cent just before 'freedom day' to 34 per cent afterwards.

Attitudes among Conservative voters tumbled 17pts this week. Prior to July 19, about three-quarters (73 per cent) of Conservative voters thought the Government was doing a good job of managing the pandemic response.

Two young women hold anti-vaccination protesters hold a demonstration in Parliament Square

According to YouGov, now only 56 per cent do, the lowest to date among Tory voters.

It comes after NHS England data showed one in three 18-to-29 year olds have still not had a first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. 

Around three million young adults in the UK are yet to be vaccinated, even though all over-18s have been eligible since June 18.

Public Health England revealed last week that case rates among those in their 20s are higher than in any age group since the pandemic began.

The current weekly infection rate of 1,155 cases per 100,000 compares to a rate of just 60 per 100,000 in those over 80.

In total, 88 per cent of adults have had their first dose, but this falls to 66 per cent among those aged 18 to 29.