The new masks mandate on public transport and in shops in England was not well received in London and Manchester.
There were clear signs that more people were covering their faces as the public balanced their frustration with hope that the new restrictions would prevent another lock down.
In Manchester city centre, 97 out of 147 people were wearing masks. Some people who were not aware of the new rules had a lack of faith in government policy.
A person is on a bus. Christopher Thomond is a photographer for The Guardian.
In London, only seven of the 85 passengers on the Northern line underground carriages were maskless. The staff at the Camden store handed out 300 masks to maskless customers in the first hour of trading on Monday, after one of the 14 suspected or confirmed UK cases of Omicron was discovered. Nine in 10 customers were masked when they entered the store.
Some of the maskless and masked complained of being controlled. The logic of trying to slow the advance of the Omicron Covid was accepted by others as well as the advice of the government's scientific advisers that increased mask wearing, at least for three weeks, would help. The threat of fines of up to 6,400 pounds for multiple offenses was enough to deter most people from breaking the rules.
In high risk and crowded areas, such as towns and shopping centres, and near transport hubs, officers will be more visible, according to the National Police Chiefs Council.
Owen Weatherill, the national lead on Covid, said police will explain the risks and encourage non-mask wearers to comply with the new rules. The Metropolitan police could be fined.
JP Lombard is getting his beard trimmed at the Barber Line Turkish barbers in Camden, but he is happy to wear a beard. Sarah Lee is a photographer for The Guardian.
The new rule does not apply to restaurants, cafes, pubs and nightclubs. The staff of the Barber Line Turkish barber shop in Camden didn't catch up for a while.
One of the barbers wore a mask when he was asked about the new rules.
JP Lombard, a 20-year-old veterinary student, said that he would do it if it prevented a lockdown. It is not clear if I will be getting on a bus in a mask and going to a packed night club tomorrow.
People are boarding a bus in Manchester. Christopher Thomond is a photographer for The Guardian.
Richard William is a sales manager in Manchester. He said that he went to a theatre in London a few days ago, where he wouldn't have to wear a mask, but on public transport.
In Manchester, where compliance was greater than in shops, the civil servant said he didn't see why it was a debate. Everyone is protected by it. I feel safer now.
Since July's freedom day, when restrictions were lifted elsewhere, the capital has remained mandatory for mask wearing on public transport. The driver of the bus from Archway to Victoria said he was tired of having to tell passengers to adhere to the rules.
A woman is Christmas shopping. Sarah Lee is a photographer for The Guardian.
He said that he has a machine that tells them to wear a face covering, but they just ignore it.
She said the rules made her feel controlled.
She asked what happened to human rights. Why can't it be a choice? I don't know if that's another way to control. She said she gets her news from social media.
It looked like it would be a long day for the store staff to be posted at doorways.
The manager at Saves said she couldn't enforce it. That is the police job. I can't prove that some people are exempt because they don't want to wear it. If they don't want to wear it, that's their choice.
