Mask wearing becoming the new normal in the UK

As new, extended, mask-wearing rules come into force on 8 August in the UK, this chart looks at how wearing a mouth and nose covering is becoming the 'new normal' for the majority of the public. As detailed by the government, "Face coverings will be made mandatory in a greater number of public indoor settings, such as museums, galleries, cinemas and public libraries" from Saturday.

According to the latest YouGov survey, 69 percent of people in the UK say they already wear a face mask when in public places, the latest in a steep rise since the start of June when only around 20 percent were choosing to do so. People in the UK have been relatively late in adopting this new behaviour. While countries such as Germany, France, Italy and Spain peaked and levelled off at between 65 and 85 percent around the beginning of May, the UK government, and public, have been far more hesitant.