A healthcare worker for the National Health Service (NHS) was viciously attacked on the London metro after he informed a group of unmasked commuters that face coverings are mandatory on public transport.
The victim, who has yet to be named by local media, was travelling on the Circle Line Tube on October 3 when he noticed three passengers - two men and one woman - without masks. Face coverings are currently mandatory on public transport in accordance with the UK's COVID-19 response, including on trains, buses, the London Underground and planes. Children under the age of 11 and those with a disability or a mental or physical impairment are exempt.
Those who fail to comply with the mask mandate may face a £100 fine (NZ$194).
After confronting the commuters, one of the men punched the healthcare worker several times in the side of the head, before throwing him off the carriage when the Tube stopped at High Street Kensington Station.
The group stayed on the service after the attack, the Tube departing the station at around 10pm (local time).
The victim suffered three breaks to his eye socket and a chipped jaw among other injuries, according to a statement by the British Transport Police (BTP).
On Tuesday (local time), the BTP released an image of a man in connection with the attack, urging the public to come forward with any information.
The spread of the virus has accelerated across Europe, the UK currently the ninth worst-affected nation worldwide. Britain has recorded more than 920,000 cases of COVID-19 and more than 45,000 deaths.
Britain reported its highest daily death toll since May on Tuesday, with 367 people succumbing to the virus - up from 241 a week earlier.
"We continue to see the trend in deaths rising, and it is likely this will continue for some time," Dr Yvonne Doyle, the medical director of Public Health England, said in a statement to Bloomberg.
In August, New Zealand's Director-General of Health, Dr Ashley Bloomfield, strongly condemned acts of verbal and physical abuse against healthcare workers at COVID-19 testing centres.
Following the re-emergence of community transmission in August, the Super City saw a rapid surge in testing numbers as Aucklanders rushed to ensure their respiratory symptoms weren't indicative of the deadly virus, which has infected more than 43.8 million people worldwide and killed over 1.16 million.
During a press conference on August 14, Dr Bloomfield - one of the pivotal players in New Zealand's COVID-19 response - acknowledged reports of healthcare workers being attacked amid the period of increased anxiety.
"We've had reports of healthcare workers who are doing their best to particularly provide testing for people being verbally abused and even attacked," he said. "This is completely unacceptable - I'm sure you will agree - and please remember that all health workers are doing their best to help not just you but all New Zealanders."
He said it was "inexplicable" that people would take their frustration out on healthcare workers.
