U.K. to make face coverings optional by July 19

Conservative News DailyJuly 4, 2021

U.K. Housing Minister Robert Jenrick is photographed. (Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 1:51 PM PT – Sunday, July 4, 2021

Government officials in the U.K. have announced face coverings would soon become optional for the nation. Housing Minister Robert Jenrick made the remarks on Sunday as part of the government’s recent decision to ease nationwide lockdown restrictions.

Jenrick went on to say he believed a lot of people have grown tired of wearing masks and the government was ready to take further steps towards returning life to normalcy. Although the housing minister has remained hopeful of the future, he assured the nation wouldn’t completely forget the dangers of the virus.

“The data that we’re seeing, that the prime minister is reviewing at the moment ahead of his decision point, on the roadmap looks very positive,” he explained. “It does seem as if we can now move forward and move to a much more permissive regime where we move away from any of those restrictions that have been so difficult for us, and as you say learn to live with the virus.”

I know many people will feel cautious about the easing of restrictions – that’s completely understandable.

But no date will ever be risk free, so we have to take a broad and balanced view on the different risks to our society. 👇🏾 pic.twitter.com/Pfqd1GCG2t

— Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) July 4, 2021

Some U.K. residents have expressed concerns for public safety once face masks become optional. Jenrick added people would have the personal choice to continue to follow restrictions if they pleased to do so, but the government would no longer mandate COVID-19 safety measures.

The majority of COVID-19 restrictions in the U.K. are expected to end July 19.