FACE masks WILL still be needed on the Tube and all London transport despite Plan B being ripped up from next week, Sadiq Khan has said.

Boris Johnson announced he is scrapping almost all Covid restrictions which were introduced last month to help fight off the Omicron wave.

The PM declared wearing masks in public spaces like trains, buses, and shops will be scrapped from midnight next Wednesday.

But those in the capital will have to continue wearing face coverings as they remain a "condition of carriage" on TfL services.

It means commuters who don't comply could be denied travel, although they can no longer receive a fine or prosecution from cops.

Currently, travellers can be fined £200 for not wearing a mask on public transport.

But London Mayor Sadiq Khan slammed the decision to get rid of the mask mandate and insisted face coverings should continue to be worn on the TfL network.

His spokesperson told MyLondon: "TfL’s rules remain in place, that masks are a condition of carriage.

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"TfL will have enforcement officers on the network giving them out and telling them to wear them.

"We can stop people boarding, but this is a level down in terms of powers and is not the law anymore. Police officers can’t fine people or prosecute them."

Expressing their concern at the relax of Covid rules, they continued: "Our preference would be for the government to keep the legislation around masks on public transport.

"Sadiq has been very clear masks should be enforced."

Nationwide, mask-wearing rules are expected to stay on public transport, but will no longer be enforced by law and instead recommended through guidance.

As The Sun revealed, masks in classrooms will be dropped tomorrow and scrapped entirely in schools on January 26.

In a statement addressing the end of the Plan B measures, Mr Khan urged Londoners to remember Covid "still poses a significant threat to all of us, our livelihoods and our loved ones."

SADIQ SPEAKS ON ANNOUNCEMENT

He continued: "If we have learnt anything from this pandemic, it is that we must not get complacent and undo all our hard work and sacrifices.

"That’s why face coverings will remain a condition of carriage on TfL services.

"I’m asking everyone in our capital to do the right thing and continue to wear a face covering when travelling on TfL services to keep us all protected and to prevent further restrictions from being necessary later down the line."

Addressing parliament on Wednesday, the Prime Minister said the guidance for Brits to work from home where possible has been immediately withdrawn.

That means people can head back to the office from tomorrow morning.

Vaccine passports, used by people to prove their vaccination status or a negative test to enter large venues, will also go from midnight next Wednesday.

The current isolation rules requiring everyone who gets the virus to quarantine are also set to expire on March 24 or even sooner.

RESTRICTIONS SCRAPPED

As of Monday, people in England who test positive can leave home after five full days.

But the confusing detail of the new rules means anyone isolating will technically have to do so for six, not five, days.

This is because the first full day of isolation is NOT the day you test positive or noticed symptoms – although you must still isolate following either of these events.

That day is now known as "day zero", with the next day counting as day one, the UK Health Security Agency confirmed.

Covid patients must then test negative on lateral flow tests on day five and six in order to be released from isolation.

The shock shake-up to the Plan B restrictions was approved at a meeting of the Cabinet this morning.

They will only apply to England because Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland all set their own Covid restrictions.

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