PASSENGERS travelling on busses intercity will be asked to wear a mask after "freedom day," it has been revealed.

Brighton and Hove and Metrobus will ask passengers to keep wearing face coverings on their buses once restrictions are lifted on July 19.

From Monday, wearing a mask will become a voluntary decision and will no longer be a legal requirement.

However, Brighton and Hove and Metrobus managing director Martin Harris said that while face coverings would no longer be compulsory on public transport, people were strongly encouraged to wear one, unless exempt.

“The government, our local authority and public health teams are advising that people continue to wear face coverings in enclosed spaces. We fully support this, and our messaging on face coverings on buses remains in place.

“We highly recommend that passengers who can wear face coverings continue to wear them, unless they cannot.

"This is the same recommendation for all enclosed spaces such as shops.

"As the final details are being worked through, I would ask all passengers to continue to act responsibly to help keep each other safe.

“We are really pleased to welcome people back on to our buses as seating and standing restrictions on buses are removed.

"All the other health and safety measures we have put in place during the pandemic will stay, because our priority is - and will always be - the safety of our customers and colleagues.”

From Monday, social distancing will be scrapped and groups of more than six people from multiple households can hang out indoors.

Nightclubs will also reopen for the first time in more than a year, with ravers expected to hit the clubs on Sunday in preparation for the easing at midnight.

It comes amid a four per cent weekly rise in cases in Brighton and Hove, with 1,270 confirmed new cases in the seven days up to July 9.

That is equivalent to a weekly rate of 436.6 per 100,000 residents, higher than the South East rate of 242.1 per 100,000 and the England rate of 341.5 per 100,000.

The pattern of infection has risen in all areas of the city and all age groups.

Dr Katie Cuming, public health consultant with Brighton and Hove City Council, recommends that everyone in the city continues to remain cautious and act responsibly after restrictions end on Monday, to stop the virus spreading "out of control".

She said: “Only one in two adults in the city has had two vaccinations so we still have a little way to go before everyone is properly protected.

"There are still vulnerable people among us who could become very unwell if they catch the virus.

“As well as keeping up the basic good hygiene habits that we’ve been following for the past year, the two most important things we can do are to get vaccinated and take symptom-free Covid tests twice a week.

“If you haven’t already booked your first vaccination, please do so today."