A UNIVERSITY professor is calling for more education on mask-wearing and risk after it was confirmed that most mandatory coronavirus restrictions would end next week.

Professor John Drury, from the University of Sussex, says the government needs to “explain and talk to people about how masks work” ahead of the lifting of lockdown restrictions next week.

From Monday, July 19 the legal requirement to cover your face will be lifted, but people are advised that wearing a mask can reduce the risk to themselves and to others.

Masks will become voluntary in all settings, including shops, hospitality and public transport.

Professor Dury, a social psychologist and member of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Behaviours (Spi-B) told LBC: “The government talks about the word ‘advisory’, but at the very least, there needs to be a concerted programme of public engagement, I mean we don’t really see that.

“Where is the communication, the dialogue, the education?

“They need to explain and talk to people about how masks work, that they work, that they are one of the most important mitigations that may protect others.”

He added: “The point about personal responsibility is interesting – it’s always been the case that personal responsibility has been stressed, but there was a publication from Spi-B recently that said that needs to be backed up with capacity.

“You need to support people with education: How can they make risk assessments? Do they know the different risks indoors and outdoors?

“And where is that to backup that personal responsibility?”

The professor added that he is concerned that the legal requirement to wear masks is being ended.

He said: “To drop legal enforcement does send a very strong signal, because when it is legally enforced it tells us that it’s very important.

“If you remember last year, it was around this time in the summer when masks were legally enforced, before that mask usage was going up and it shot up much more once it was legally enforced.”