With lockdown in the UK extended, it has long been expected that coronavirus restrictions such as masks and social distancing will remain for many months to come. Now, however, the Government has said that facemasks will be scrapped, no longer a legal requirement, news which has been met with delight by many who find them difficult to wear.
The UK's environment secretary, George Eustice, told Sky News there will be no "legal compulsion" to wear masks once England's coronavirus lockdown restrictions are lifted.
The current date that is expected is July 19.
Mr Eustice said the Government wanted "all of the legal requirements to do things to be taken away completely" from that date.
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He said: "Whether there will still be some people who might choose to wear masks or whether it may be advisory in some settings, that's a separate matter.
"But the objective of that final stage is to remove the legal requirement to do these things."
Asked if he would continue to wear a face covering, he replied: "I wouldn't, no. I have to be honest, once I'm told it's safe not to, I want to get back to normal.
"I think a lot of people will want to shed those masks."
"But while it's contributing to controlling the pandemic, yes I will wear my mask like everybody else and do my bit."
However, some experts have said it is important to make the public aware that some defences against the virus will need to remain in day-to-day life.
Dr David Nabarro, a special envoy on COVID-19 for the World Health Organisation, said there was a need to "maintain defences against the virus to stop it welling up more and more, and that's going to be the life to come, at least until there's enough vaccine, and enough certainty, to be sure that vaccination will protect us".
Professor Richard Luxton, a leader in clinical chemistry and neuro-immunology and Co-Founder of Safe Surface Sensor said: “The rise in cases and hospitalisations driven by the spread of the Delta Variant of coronavirus is rightly being treated with concern by the Government and SAGE.
“The rapid take up and rollout of coronavirus vaccines is having the desired impact on suppressing Coronavirus-related deaths, however, as lockdown restrictions continue to ease, we must adopt a more nuanced public health response.”
He said that, if masks are scrapped, other hygiene measures need to take their place to ensure the virus doesn't spike.
He said: “The latest data from Public Health England emphasizes that as leisure, hospitality and work-related facilities open up we must put in place measures to limit the spread of dangerous variants of the coronavirus.
An important measure, which has been somewhat overlooked since the beginning of the pandemic, is the importance of hygiene."
Professor Luxton highlighted the possible use of technology to help the public decipher whether a space was hygienic or not.
He said: "Sensing technology can ensure that spaces such as public transport hospitality venues or theatres have been adequately sanitised, greatly reducing Covid-19 transmission through surface contact.
"Embracing developments such as these can help to make sure the environment you are entering is as safe as possible, restore confidence in businesses.”
Speaking to MPs last week, Public Health England's Dr Susan Hopkins said there will be more emphasis on personal risk and responsibility once COVID restrictions are lifted.
"I think we will all need to make decisions for ourselves, particularly on wearing masks, using better ventilation, hand hygiene.
"So we may find that some people, not all, will change their behaviours, and particularly those that are more concerned about their health or the health of people they live with, it will be for governments to decide what rules and regulations will need to be in place and what legislation will need to continue after July 19."