Mask wearing may not be legally compulsory from today - but there are plenty of places that will still require them.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said last week that all remaining restrictions will be eased, including the legal order to wear a face mask indoors.
But companies are allowed to set their own rules, with supermarkets and transport firms among those to say they will still require customers to wear them.
Many celebrated the fact that they would not have to wear a mask anymore, but others, including the extremely vulnerable spoke of their safety concerns if they were close to someone with coronavirus.
The Prime Minister urged the English public to continue covering their faces in "crowded and enclosed spaces" after his "big bang" unlocking, but said it will no longer be a legal requirement.
Although it is no longer a legal requirement to wear face masks in shops and on public transport, some companies have said customers should still wear one when using their services.
Supermarkets
Some supermarkets across the country are still deciding and waiting for further guidance on whether customers will have to wear face masks in store.
Here are the latest rules for each supermarket:
Tesco
Tesco is carrying out an internal review into its mask-wearing policy following the recent No 10 briefing, LancsLive reports.
At present, Tesco still has the following guidance: "To protect our colleagues and customers, we won’t let anyone into our stores who isn’t wearing a face covering, unless they’re exempt in line with government guidance. Please also make sure that you wear your face covering correctly – covering your mouth and your nose."
Asda
Asda has not yet declared what its policy on face masks will be after July 19.
At present, all customers are required to wear a face covering when they visit one of its stores.
In case someone forgets to bring their own covering, packets of disposable masks are available in every store and can be opened and worn while shopping and then paid for at the tills.
Further clarifications and supermarket policy changes could come after the latest Government briefing on Monday, July 12, to confirm the lifting of restrictions from the new Freedom Day of July 19.
Aldi and Morrisons
An Aldi spokeswoman said: “From Monday 19th July, we'll continue to encourage customers and colleagues to wear face coverings when they're in store. Other measures like hand sanitiser and screens will also stay in place. Face masks are still required for customers and colleagues in our Welsh and Scottish stores, in line with the latest guidance.”
Supermarket chain Morrisons will give more detailed guidance soon.
Sainsbury's
The chief executive of Sainsbury's said he expects that customers will no longer need to wear face masks in the company's stores from July 19.
Simon Roberts is consulting with staff to get their views but says the decision to wear one would be down to personal choice by each individual.
Mr Roberts explained: “There are two very distinct points of view. One is customers and colleagues who can’t wait for the restrictions to lift and not to have to wear a mask for example, and others who are keen to continue to do that.
“I think in the end it will come down to the choices that individual customers and colleagues want to make. It is going to be driven by customer and by colleague choice.”
Airlines
Despite the Government announcing the use of face masks will no longer be a legal requirement in England from next week, major British airlines have said they will continue their rules on the mandatory need for face coverings.
Here's what they say
Ryanair
Ryanair says customers must wear a face mask in the airport and onboard their flight.
A spokesperson said: "In line with EASA/ECDC guidelines and in order to protect the health of our customers and crew, the use of face masks will still be mandatory across all Ryanair flights, regardless of the departing/destination country”.
British Airways
You will need to wear a face mask at all times, BA says, in the airport and on board, unless you qualify for the government exemption list.
When you’re on board, you’re allowed to remove your face mask for a reasonable time to enable you to eat or drink. When you’re not consuming food or drink, your face mask must be placed back on and must cover your nose and mouth at all times.
A spokesperson said: "While we keep our policies under constant review, the safety of our customers and colleagues is always our priority, and we have no immediate plans to change our mask policy.
"We will continue to take advice and guidance from all the appropriate authorities."
EasyJet
Face masks must still be worn at the airport, at the gate when boarding the aircraft, and throughout the flight. If you have an exemption from wearing a mask, you must bring a doctor’s letter or medical certificate which clearly states you’re exempt.
A spokesperson said: "At present, there are no changes to easyJet’s onboard mask policy and we will continue to keep this under review.
"We continue to be guided by our inhouse medical adviser and a number of key industry governing bodies that airlines follow including the WHO, ICAO (which provides guidance to the Civil Aviation Authorities), EASA, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and Public Health authorities across Europe and at present their guidance around the wearing of masks onboard remains unchanged.”
Jet2
A spokesperson said: "The health and safety of our customers and colleagues will always be our number one priority.
"We will continue to follow the current CAA guidelines and regulations, including the use of face masks at our airports and onboard our flights."
Virgin Atlantic
A spokesperson said: "The health and safety of our customers and crew remains Virgin Atlantic’s number one priority and we continuously review all our health measures.
"After carefully reviewing our policy in relation to face coverings onboard our flights, we will require all customers and crew to continue to wear face masks for the duration of their flights post 19 th July.”
Masks are provided to customers in the airline's Health Packs. Crew members will ask any customers not wearing a mask to do so.
Tui
Their face mask policy requires everyone over the age of six to wear a face mask on flights, including while sleeping, unless you’re exempt due to a medical condition.
You’ll need to wear a mask even if you’ve had your two vaccinations.
Your face mask must cover your nose, mouth and chin – you can wear a face shield, but you’ll need to wear a face mask, too, TUI says.
Trains
After Mayor of London Sadiq Khan asked Transport for London to make face masks compulsory for everyone on its services unless they are exempt, the Mirror was told it backed the plan .
This paved the way for mandatory face masks on the Tube, TfL trains, buses and taxis across London.
Mr Khan said: “I’ve repeatedly made clear that the simplest and safest option would have been for the Government to retain the national requirement for face coverings on public transport.
"I’m not prepared to stand by and put Londoners, and our city’s recovery, at risk.
"This is why, after careful consideration, I have decided to ask TfL to retain the requirement for passengers to wear a face covering on all TfL services when the national regulations change."
He added: "By keeping face masks mandatory we will give Londoners and visitors the reassurance and confidence to make the most of what our city has to offer, while also protecting our heroic transport workers and those who may be vulnerable and rely on the network to get around our city."
Cross-Channel train firm Eurostar and airlines such as British Airways, easyJet and Ryanair will also continue to require passengers to wear face coverings from July 19.
Buses
Worried Manchester mayor Andy Burnham says that mask wearing will still be required on buses from today.He joined his counterparts in Liverpool, Sheffield, West of England, West Yorkshire and North of Tyne to announced they were using their "limited powers" to ensure mask rules remain in place.
Other retail venues
Waterstones
One of those is Waterstones, which says it is encouraging its customers to continue wearing face masks.
In a statement published on its website, a spokesman for Waterstones said: "From Monday 19 July, a loosening of government restrictions in England means the wearing of face coverings and observing 1m social distancing is no longer mandatory.
"However, the Government recommendation remains to wear face masks in crowded indoor environment, such as shops.
"With this in mind, we will be respectfully encouraging our customers to voluntarily maintain the same safety measures of face masks and social distancing that, to date, have kept both our staff and fellow customers so secure.
"We have asked our staff to adopt the same principles.
"Our bookshops in England are also maintaining the same Covid-19 protections such as Perspex till screens, hand sanitiser and safety signage as before."
Primark
The clothing giant has announced that it "hopes" customers will continue to wear face coverings, although it did not say they would be mandatory.
It said: "We want our customers and colleagues to continue to feel safe in our stores.
"Even though it will no longer be a legal requirement, we hope that people will continue to think of others and wear a face covering if they can."
B&Q
The DIY retailer will continue to put up signs in stores urging people to continue to wear face masks unless they are exempt.
Customers and staff will also be encouraged to keep a safe distance from each other to prevent the risk of infection.
Wilko
The retail chain has recommended people continue to wear masks, asking customers to "show their support by wearing theirs while shopping too".
Boots
Staff will continue to wear masks, and customers are encouraged to do so as well.
Borough Market
London's historic food market is to maintain its mask-wearing rules for customers and traders following a survey of market visitors attending this week which showed a clear majority in favour of mask-wearing beyond the Governments lifting of restrictions.
In January this year, the market became the first outdoor retail venue in the UK to make face masks compulsory.
Darren Henaghan, Managing Director of Borough Market, said: “It was important for us to understand how our customers felt, and the clear message we received as that they want masks to stay for the time being.
“We have a responsibility to provide a safe and comfortable environment where the public can shop with confidence, so this is the right thing to do.
"Our traders, who will also continue to wear masks, support this move as well.”
As is allowed in pubs and restaurants, people will be able to remove face masks while eating and drinking in the market’s hot food areas.
Ikea
The furniture chain is another which will urge people to carry on wearing masks despite the restriction being lifted.
However it says it "recognises that this is a personal choice for customers and co-workers".
Wales and Scotland
Following Boris Johnson's press conference on Monday, First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon told the country that face masks will remain in place following August 9, when the last of the restrictions there are set to be relaxed.
She told vulnerable Scots: "We will not abandon you.
"For as long as necessary we will ask people to take sensible precautions - like the wearing of face coverings - to allow you, like everyone else, to enjoy more normal life again."
First Minister for Wales Mark Drakeford announced today that some restrictions in Wales will remain in place for longer.
He said Wales will move fully to 'Level 1' from July 17. This means instead of removing almost all legal restrictions, indoor gatherings in Wales will still be limited to six people maximum.
This rule of six will include private homes and holiday accommodation. He added that by law face masks will still have to be worn even beyond August 7 when most - but not all - restrictions will be removed in the country.
