UK Government will 'expect and recommend' continued use of face masks in crowded areas and on public transport

The Government has previously said that from Step 4 all coronavirus restrictions on gatherings will be removed, masks will no longer be legally required, social distancing measures will be scrapped and the order to work from home will be lifted

Health Secretary Sajid Javid has said it is the 'right time to get our nation closer to normal life.'

The use of domestic vaccine passports and face masks will be encouraged as ministers set out their approach to England’s so-called “freedom day” on July 19 in response to soaring coronavirus cases.

Although most legal restrictions will largely be lifted, hopes of a complete return to normality have been dashed by the spread of the Delta variant.