Face coverings will be mandatory on public transport in England from June 15, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced.

Mr Shapps said “we need to ensure every precaution is taken” on buses, trains, aircraft and ferries as further lockdown measures are eased and passenger numbers increase.

Currently passengers are advised to wear a face covering but are not stopped from travelling without one.

At a Downing Street press conference, Mr Shapps said changes would be made to the conditions of travel for trains and buses.

“This will mean that you can be refused travel if you don’t comply and you could be fined,” he said.

“Alongside transport operators, this will be enforced by the British Transport Police if necessary, but I expect the vast majority of people won’t need to be forced into this.”

Young children and people with disabilities and breathing difficulties will be exempt.

Network Rail chairman Sir Peter Hendy told the briefing he is “not expecting a huge upsurge in railway staff having to police this”.

He added: “I am expecting sensible passengers to do their duty and look after themselves and others.”

Mr Shapps suggested passengers on trains starting outside England may have to put on coverings when crossing the border.

It would be up to Scotland and Wales to issue their own guidance but “I don’t think it will turn out to be terribly confusing”, he insisted.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted that her government is “considering making it mandatory” to wear face coverings on public transport and in shops.

Face coverings can be a scarf, piece of cloth or mask.

The Government says they are “marginally beneficial as a precautionary measure”, and states that evidence suggests face coverings do not protect the wearer, but may protect other people if he or she is infected.

Surgical masks should be reserved for people who need them for protection while at work such as medical staff, according to official advice.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan was among those who have been lobbying the Government to make face coverings mandatory on public transport.

He said ministers have “finally seen sense”, adding that there is “a large body of evidence” that face coverings can help stop the spread of coronavirus.

Transport unions had also urged ministers to enforce the wearing of face coverings after the deaths of dozens of workers.

Mick Cash, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, said the announcement was “long overdue”.

Mr Shapps said on May 12 that 42 TfL workers and 10 mainline rail staff had died after being infected by coronavirus.

People are advised to wash their hands or use hand sanitiser before a face covering is put on or taken off, and coverings should also be washed regularly.

The announcement came as ministers were facing more pressure over the planned blanket quarantine for travellers to the UK after an expert questioned the Government’s claim that the scheme was “backed by science”.

Professor Robert Dingwall, a scientific adviser to the Government and member of a sub-group of Sage (Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies), said there was no evidence of new clusters of Covid-19 infection involving people who have been travelling abroad.

“That I think, even then, we would have to see something that is targeted on countries with a significantly higher level of community transmission than ourselves – and there aren’t too many of those around, I’m afraid.”

The travel industry pressed home its message that the quarantine plan risked worsening the economic pain by hampering attempts to get people moving again and taking holidays, with Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary saying the plans would “do untold damage to British tourism”.

But Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis defended the quarantine policy, insisting it was “the right time to do it”.

In other developments:

– MPs heard industry warnings that tens of thousands of aerospace and aviation workers are set to lose their jobs as a result of the crisis.

– The Bank of England published a list of companies which receive funding through its Covid Corporate Financing Facility lending scheme.

– The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said demand for new cars fell by 89% last month as the coronavirus lockdown hit sales.

– Around 1,500 jobs faced the axe along with 12 showrooms at struggling car dealership Lookers as the group announced plans to slash costs.

– Business Secretary Alok Sharma received a negative result after being tested for coronavirus.