More than 150 London commuters were given £200 fines for not wearing masks in just one day.
As of last Tuesday (30 November) it is mandatory to wear a face mask in certain places, including in shops and on public transport.
However, it seems as though many commuters have tried to ignore the rules and have been whacked with a £200 fine for doing so.
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According to Transport for London, 152 people were given fines on the very first day masks were reintroduced - adding up to a whopping £30,400.
The system of fines will work in the same way as during the third national lockdown, and will see fines reduced by half to £100 if paid within the first 14 days.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the measures taken were at the correct level for the threat posed by the new variant, which scientists are concerned could be vaccine resistant or more transmissible than other variants.
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He told Sky News: “Doing it in this proportionate way where it’s for public transport, it’s for retail outlets, I think is the right level of response on masks.
“It will be via government regulation and that means, I think, that people will take it seriously.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “Evidence shows that mask-wearing is the single most effective public health measure at tackling Covid.
"I welcome the Government’s announcement that face coverings are now compulsory in shops and on public transport nationwide, as they already are across the TfL network. This is a measure I have long been calling for.
“Provided with proper enforcement powers, TfL will now be able to work with policing partners and really boost compliance on the network, with the selfish few who refuse to wear a face covering facing a penalty fine, rather than just being denied entry to transport services.
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"TfL enforcement officers will continue to monitor compliance across the network to keep passengers and staff as safe as possible.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care told LADbible: “In light of the new Omicron variant the government has taken swift and decisive action to mandate face coverings in some settings including shops and on public transport.
“Face coverings can provide protection to those around you and can help prevent the spread of the virus.”
Topics: Coronavirus, UK News, London