British Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick, who is also the cabinet minister, has said wearing of face coverings in England will become a personal choice and the data that will determine if lockdown restrictions can be lifted this month was looking "very positive", Reuters quoted him as saying in an interview with Sky News.

"It will be a different period where we as private citizens make these judgments rather than the government telling you what to do," he added.

Jenrick said legal lockdown restrictions were due to be removed on July 19 under the government's roadmap and Prime Minister Boris Johnson will set out details about the final stage of easing in England in the coming days.