Waterstones will ask customers to wear face masks after July 19

England's move to step four of the government's lockdown-easing roadmap on Monday will see social distancing rules and limits on social contact removed across the country.

The legal requirement to wear face masks in shops and on public transport will be lifted.

But ministers will recommend that people continue to wear face coverings in crowded areas such as on trains, trams and buses.

The legal requirement to wear face masks in shops will be lifted next week

It comes after a strong backlash against ministers’ plans to no longer legally compel people to wear masks in certain settings.

Waterstones today said it would be encouraging people to still wear masks.

In a message on Twitter, the chain said: "Following the lift of restrictions on 19 July across England, we will observe new government guidance.

"Given our enclosed browsing environment, we encourage our customers to wear face masks and observe social distancing, respecting the safety of staff and fellow book lovers."

Following the lift of restrictions on 19 July across England, we will observe new government guidance. Given our enclosed browsing environment, we encourage our customers to wear face masks and observe social distancing, respecting the safety of staff and fellow book lovers

— Waterstones (@Waterstones) July 13, 2021

And the message was met with mixed reaction, with some claiming they will boycott the shop from now on.

Julia Hartley-Brewer, talkRADIO Breakfast Show presenter, replied: "I make a point of buying books at my local Waterstones rather than ordering on Amazon because I want bookstores to thrive, but if I go into your store and a member of staff asks me to wear a mask, you will lose my business forever."

Another Twitter user said: "I agree with your right to impose your own rules. Sadly I will still be avoiding your shop as I have throughout lockdown as I can't enjoy browsing books with steamed up specs.

"I shall look forward to being able to resume my browsing once masks are a thing of the past."

Others thanked the book store, with one writing: "I love Waterstones, I love books, I love masks. (And I the thought of a book shop free from mouth breathing libertarians.)"

And another said: "I haven’t been in a physical bookstore for a long time, but will go out of my way now to have a good browse in Waterstones."

On Monday, the UK reported 34,471 new COVID-19 cases and six more coronavirus-related deaths in the latest 24-hour period. It is the sixth day in a row where total cases have been more than 30,000.

Mr Javid told MPs it was the "right time" to go to step four, adding: "If not now, when? There will never be a perfect time to take this step because we simply cannot eradicate this virus."

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Speaking later at a Downing Street news conference, Boris Johnson said it was "absolutely vital that we proceed now with caution".

"I cannot say this powerfully or emphatically enough: this pandemic is not over," the prime minister said.

"This disease, coronavirus, continues to carry risks for you and your family.

"We cannot simply revert instantly, from Monday 19 July, to life as it was before COVID."

Some of the reaction:

I believe that the people who are most scared and living in fear will most likely want to stay indoors through fear of the virus and therefore order off Amazon! The people who want to return to normal life and shops are more likely to also want to take off a mask…..

— Matt Johnson (@mjofficial) July 13, 2021

Thank you. You definitely have the right to insist on all customers wearing masks, as your booksellers, many of whom will not yet even be doubly vaccinated, and your customers, deserve to be safe whilst in the enclosed space.

— Anne Booth 💙 (@Bridgeanne) July 13, 2021

I appreciate you can't win here but what can you do? I will be continuing mask wearing beyond govt guidelines until situation vastly improves

— Jonny Porter (@jptweethawk) July 13, 2021

I'll definitely continue to wear mine at work. It's a small thing that might make a big difference to someone else.

— Polis 🦊 Πόλυς (@PolisLoizou) July 13, 2021

Will you also encourage customers to wear gloves when handling books, reading glasses for all, oh and could you supply damp sponges for those who usually lick their fingers when flicking through the pages?

— Mick Cluley (@Shpangle_) July 13, 2021

• What do you think? Will you keep wearing a mask after next week?