No mask day: rules could be axed on July 19 for next stage of England’s lockdown lifting

Countries around the world are easing rules for mandatory facial coverings

A woman wearing a face mask walks past a piece of street art depicting an NHS worker in London. The British government is hoping to end mask requirements on July 19, the earliest possible date under the current road map for easing lockdown restrictions. Getty Images

A member of the public wearing a face mask passes a sign asking shoppers to face coverings inside the store, in Cumbria, north west England. AFP

Britain's Health Secretary Matt Hancock wearing a Union Jack face mask walks towards the media briefing room in Downing Street. Getty Images

People wearing face masks ride aboard a London Underground train. Reuters

Racegoers are seen in protective masks at Royal Ascot. Reuters

A Manchester United fan is seen wearing a face mask outside the stadium next to a sign saying "Please wear a face covering" prior to a Premier League in Manchester. Getty Images

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, wearing a face mask, leaves 10 Downing Street in central London. AFP

A MCC Member is seen wearing a protective mask inside Lord's Cricket Ground. Getty Images

British tennis star Johanna Konta wears a face mask at the Viking Open at Nottingham Tennis Centre. PA

One of the 100 life-size body cast statues of 'Another Place' at Crosby beach, Liverpool, created by the artist Sir Antony Gormley, is seen with a face mask. Getty Images

A racegoer shows off a fashionable face mask at Royal Ascot. Getty Images

A man wears a mask reading 'End the lockdown' outside the Palace of Westminster, to protest against the delay of the planned relaxation of lockdown measures, in London. AP Photo

The British government is hoping to end face-mask requirements on July 19, the earliest possible date under the current road map for lifting lockdown restrictions.
Environment Secretary George Eustice said he hoped there would be no "legal compulsion" to wear masks and that more countries would be added to the green list of safe destinations on the UK's traffic light system for international travel.
Around the world, countries including France, Israel and some US states, are easing mask requirements. In Greece, masks will not be required outdoors from Thursday.

The road map to normality, a systematic lifting of lockdown measures, was paused in June with the UK battling a rising wave of cases and the highly contagious Delta variant raising concerns among health experts.
"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," Mr Eustice said.

"But while it's contributing to controlling the pandemic, yes I will wear my mask like everybody else and do my bit.
"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."
Face coverings became an integral part of everyday life, alongside social distancing and working from home, as much of the world adapted to the coronavirus pandemic.
In the UK, face coverings are compulsory in a range of settings, including in shops and on public transport.

Mr Eustice said he wanted to revive international travel but the government was wary of the associated risks.

A spectator in face mask on finals day at the Viking Classic at Edgbaston's Priory Club. Getty

"Personally I want us to get back to a position where we can support those who want to travel to do so. But it is difficult, we are being cautious," he said.
British citizens are advised against travelling to most countries because quarantine and testing rules on their return are time-consuming and expensive.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is expected to announce on Thursday if any new destinations are added to England's green list for quarantine-free travel amid speculation that restrictions could be eased for Spanish islands such as Ibiza.
The fourth and final stage of bringing England out of lockdown restrictions was this month delayed by four weeks by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

He pushed the so-called Freedom Day back from June 21 amid concerns over the rapid spread of the highly infectious Delta variant, which is now the dominant Covid-19 strain in the UK.