THE next steps in the government's roadmap are set to be put into motion on May 17, but facemasks are still mandatory in schools and shops.

In less than three weeks restrictions on meeting outdoors will be lifted, outdoor performances will be allowed, people will be able to meet indoors, and indoor entertainment will go ahead.

And then the final restrictions will be lifted on June 21.

The Adver asked its readers if they think facemasks should still be worn inside shops when the pandemic is over, this is what they said...

Samantha Holborow: "Yes - Covid isn’t going away. I think at least another two years of restrictions until every one is vaccinated, herd immunity and things are more in control."

Lesley Gaisford: "In many Asian countries, like Japan, people routinely wear masks when they have colds etc. It's considered the polite thing to do so as not to infect others. I think that would be an excellent idea."

Fiona Elizabeth Smart: "Masks don't bother me. Im just happy that people have to avoid me, it's great."

Andrew Little: "I most definitely will carry on wearing mine. But I suppose it's up to the individual at the end of the day."

Jodie West: "I'm struggling to see if it is ever going to be truly over."

Rachel Powell: "Nope, I'm not saying Covid's completly going away, but surely once the actual pandemic is over it wont be needed? I work in a shop and can't wait for the day to be mask free."

Emma Boyle: "It's down to personal choice. I for one will be glad when I don't have to wear one, but if I had a cold or the flu then I'd wear one."

Sarah Joanne: "There isn’t a right or wrong answer because everyone will have a different opinion. Personally, I think yes, because of this pandemic I won’t be able to trust people as much as I used to with being ill. I think it would be the sensible and safe way."

Sheila Higgs: "I won’t be wearing mine, but if you want to wear yours go ahead."

Sue Kemp: "Definitely. This virus is not going to go away."

Nick Noakes: "I don’t think it should be compulsory, but I do hope society is more accepting of them. For example if someone has a stinking cold or virus they may choose to wear one as an extra line of defence against spreading it.

"However, that does depend on the individual wearing the right mask correctly, my main point though is that I think it would be nice as a society if we accepted them being worn more so than we did before."

Marilyn Simpson: "I will wear mine, I haven't gone down with any snotty cold this year at all. It usually hits me hard about Christmas time."

Jen Rollinson: "I’ll be wearing mine still, I can pull faces at people and not be seen, No, I will honestly still wear mine, it’s helped me with the hayfever."

Rose-Marie Ihrig: "It should be down to people's own choice and they are not forced to wear it."

Sue Townsend: "Yes, staff don't want to be breathed over or coughed on."

Tania Austin: "No and I don't think you should wear them after the injection either."

Surjit Singh: "No way, it's bad enough now, wait until it gets hotter."

Kate Hunter: "Only if you're not fully vaccinated."

Helen Sunday: "Yes, 100 per cent because it stops people breathing their germs everywhere."

Richard Plumby: "It should come down to the individual's choice.

"It should be whenever you want to wear one or not basically. Not everyone wants to spend the rest of their lives wearing one in fear after the pandemic ends. But, also give people an equal choice if they want to, I think that sounds fair."