Lockdown rules: Face masks to be ditched in shops and offices & social distancing scrapped on 21 June in current plans

MASKS in shops and offices are heading for the chop on June 21.

Social distancing will end in another huge lift for fed-up Brits.

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Boffins are on board with the plans by the National Economy Recovery Taskforce.

Boris Johnson also aims to scrap the work-from-home order.

An insider said: “The current thinking points to social distancing going and mask wearing only in limited settings like buses, trains and the Tube.

“Obviously this is all dependent on final sign-off but the data is looking good and the political will is there for a proper lift-off.”

The Sun has learned that the National Economy Recovery Taskforce have discussed a “maximalist” approach to lifting “non-pharmaceutical interventions” like masks and staying apart everywhere except for a small list of confined places.

More unlocking measures, such as meeting indoors, are due on Monday, but social distancing and mask wearing have been kept under separate review.

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Government scientists are now said to be on board with the taskforce’s plans as virus rates plummet while jabs soar.

Masks on trains and buses remain an option but possibly without the fines to enforce the measure.

Yesterday Boris signalled a return to offices was likely next month.

He told the Commons that towns and cities “depend on people having the confidence on going to work”.

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He added: “That is certainly our intention, provided we stay on track.

“I want to be sure we are able to say that with more clarity, a bit later on. We must be guided by what is happening with the pandemic.”

Any plans will only get the nod as long as a variant like the one from India does not rip through Britain.

Sources say scientific advisers have told the PM that the bug will naturally retreat in the summer, and by winter Britain should be at peak immunity due to the vaccine rollout.

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Every Brit will be offered a first jab by the end of July, and by the autumn everyone will be double dosed.

Some of the most vulnerable could be onto their third.

From this morning, the NHS is inviting people aged 38 to 39 to book their jabs.