The British government has decided to scale back restrictions on people traveling to England. Vaccinated travelers will no longer need to take a test before their journey to the UK. However, they will still need to take one within two days of arrival.

Vaccinated travelers will no longer need to take a test before their journey to the UK

UK scraps quarantining after arrival if fully jabbed

Leisure sites such as drive-in cinemas, safari parks and the outdoor parts of zoos will now be able to reopen, while places of worship are also set to swing open their doors again for individual prayer.

All sites will need to comply with social distancing rules requiring people to keep at least two metres (six feet) apart and advising them to wear face coverings such as masks or scarves when indoors.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-police-to-not-take-action-against-pm-johnsons-advisor-cummings-301610">UK police to not take action against PM Johnson's advisor Cummings</a>

Meanwhile, the coverings will be compulsory on public transport across England from Monday, with operators allowed to bar travel to those not wearing them.&nbsp;

"I know people are anxious," finance minister Rishi Sunak said Sunday as he encouraged shopping to help kickstart an economy seeing unprecedented declines.

"It's a slightly different experience... but it is a safe environment and we should all be able to go out knowing that we should be able to shop in confidence," he told Sky News.

'Adapt'&nbsp;

Non-essential shops in Northern Ireland reopened Friday, but Scotland and Wales have not yet decided when to follow suit, as Britain's devolved governments lift restrictions at different speeds.

The non-essential retail sector employs 1.3 million people and contributes £46.6 billion ($58.4 billion, 52 billion euros) to the British economy annually, according to the finance ministry, and its restart is viewed as economically vital.

Streets have been cleaned, footpaths widened and hand-sanitising stations installed in London's West End commercial district ahead of Monday.

But Jace Tyrrell, CEO of New West End Company, a partnership of 600 British and international operators in the area, predicted it will be "quite some time until we get back to normal".

"Retailers are going to have to adapt," she told AFP.&nbsp;

Britain has been among the worst-hit countries by the pandemic, with the number of suspected and confirmed COVID-19 deaths passing 50,000 last week, according to official statistics.

The government's less comprehensive rolling daily death count of those who have tested positive for the virus stands at nearly 42,000.

Despite the grim tolls, the transmission rate has dropped dramatically since the pandemic's peak in Britain in early April.

But the lockdown that helped turn that tide shrank the economy by one-fifth that month, official data showed Friday, stoking fears of a painful recession.

The OECD last week predicted the British economy was on course to shrink by more than 11 per cent in 2020 because of COVID-19.

'Margin for manoeuvre'&nbsp;

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has faced heavy criticism over his handling of the crisis, has set out a phased lifting of restrictions.

Outdoor markets and car showrooms reopened at the start of the month, when some younger children also returned to schools.

But his government drew ridicule last week after conceding it could not deliver on a plan to have all primary school children back for a month before the summer holidays.

Johnson has delayed reopening pubs and restaurants, the next stage in easing, until July 4 at the earliest.

Relaxing social distancing from the current two-metre requirement is seen as the only way for most of those businesses to operate viably, with proponents of easing the rule noting that other countries are adopting smaller distances.

Johnson confirmed Sunday he will review the measure as he faces growing pressure to ease it.

"You start to build some more margin for manoeuvre and we'll be looking at that and we'll be keeping it under constant review as we go forward to the next step in our plan," he said during a visit to a shopping centre in east London.

But he added: "What I don't want to do is sacrifice the huge efforts of the British people in beating this disease." 
&nbsp;

Leisure sites such as drive-in cinemas, safari parks and the outdoor parts of zoos will now be able to reopen, while places of worship are also set to swing open their doors again for individual prayer.

Leisure sites such as drive-in cinemas, safari parks and the outdoor parts of zoos will now be able to reopen, while places of worship are also set to swing open their doors again for individual prayer. All sites will need to comply with social distancing rules requiring people to keep at least two metres (six feet) apart and advising them to wear face coverings such as masks or scarves when indoors. Also read | UK police to not take action against PM Johnson's advisor Cummings Meanwhile, the coverings will be compulsory on public transport across England from Monday, with operators allowed to bar travel to those not wearing them. "I know people are anxious," finance minister Rishi Sunak said Sunday as he encouraged shopping to help kickstart an economy seeing unprecedented declines. "It's a slightly different experience... but it is a safe environment and we should all be able to go out knowing that we should be able to shop in confidence," he told Sky News. 'Adapt' Non-essential shops in Northern Ireland reopened Friday, but Scotland and Wales have not yet decided when to follow suit, as Britain's devolved governments lift restrictions at different speeds. The non-essential retail sector employs 1.3 million people and contributes £46.6 billion ($58.4 billion, 52 billion euros) to the British economy annually, according to the finance ministry, and its restart is viewed as economically vital. Streets have been cleaned, footpaths widened and hand-sanitising stations installed in London's West End commercial district ahead of Monday. But Jace Tyrrell, CEO of New West End Company, a partnership of 600 British and international operators in the area, predicted it will be "quite some time until we get back to normal". "Retailers are going to have to adapt," she told AFP. Britain has been among the worst-hit countries by the pandemic, with the number of suspected and confirmed COVID-19 deaths passing 50,000 last week, according to official statistics. The government's less comprehensive rolling daily death count of those who have tested positive for the virus stands at nearly 42,000. Despite the grim tolls, the transmission rate has dropped dramatically since the pandemic's peak in Britain in early April. But the lockdown that helped turn that tide shrank the economy by one-fifth that month, official data showed Friday, stoking fears of a painful recession. The OECD last week predicted the British economy was on course to shrink by more than 11 per cent in 2020 because of COVID-19. 'Margin for manoeuvre' Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has faced heavy criticism over his handling of the crisis, has set out a phased lifting of restrictions. Outdoor markets and car showrooms reopened at the start of the month, when some younger children also returned to schools. But his government drew ridicule last week after conceding it could not deliver on a plan to have all primary school children back for a month before the summer holidays. Johnson has delayed reopening pubs and restaurants, the next stage in easing, until July 4 at the earliest. Relaxing social distancing from the current two-metre requirement is seen as the only way for most of those businesses to operate viably, with proponents of easing the rule noting that other countries are adopting smaller distances. Johnson confirmed Sunday he will review the measure as he faces growing pressure to ease it. "You start to build some more margin for manoeuvre and we'll be looking at that and we'll be keeping it under constant review as we go forward to the next step in our plan," he said during a visit to a shopping centre in east London. But he added: "What I don't want to do is sacrifice the huge efforts of the British people in beating this disease."

English shops, attractions to reopen as virus lockdown eased

A blinds company in Northern Ireland has switched its production focus to creating thousands of face shields for medical workers tackling the spread of coronavirus.

UK blind company switches production to make thousands of face shields

At a time when the global concerns related to novel coronavirus increasing by the day, people in the United Kingdom continued to gather in huge numbers in public places, defying the administrations' requests that their action could lead to an escalation of infections.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-virus-accelerating-amid-fears-country-on-same-path-as-italy-287939">UK virus 'accelerating' amid fears country on same path as Italy</a>

During this weekend, markets, cafes, and parks were packed in the UK despite the death toll standing at 281 and over 50 fatalities in the last 24 hours in the region.&nbsp;

<img alt="coronavirus uk" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="68dea643-fc66-4456-9495-31c5f6983334" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/weq6ZuBj.jpg" />

(People enjoy the Spring sunshine on the seafront at Whitstable, east of London on March 22, 2020 | Photo Credit: AFP)

Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sunday warned that he would take tougher measures if the Britons continue to defy the government's urges of avoiding mass gathering and practicing social isolation.&nbsp;

"Please follow the advice and don't think that the fresh air gives you some immunity," Johnson said in a Downing Street press briefing.&nbsp;

"If people won't do it, we'll bring in tougher measures."

On Sunday, in one of the first hot weekends of 2020, people in large numbers spent&nbsp;time onto the banks of the River Thames. In various parts, people were seen enjoying the sunbath.&nbsp;

Johnson earlier warned that Britain was "accelerating" along the same COVID-19 path witnessed by Italy, which has overtaken China with the most number of deaths.&nbsp;

"We are only a matter of weeks -- two or three -- behind Italy. The Italians have a superb health care system. And yet their doctors and nurses have been completely overwhelmed by the demand," the PM said.&nbsp;

Major concerns about the spread of the deadly virus&nbsp;are troubling Britons as authorities estimate 1.2 million people most at risk. &nbsp;

The UK's health system, NHS, is currently under a lot of pressure and officials ask people from most vulnerable groups to stay at home. &nbsp;&nbsp;

"People should stay at home, protect our NHS and save lives," Housing secretary Robert Jenrick said.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

At a time when the global concerns related to novel coronavirus increasing by the day, people in the United Kingdom continued to gather in huge numbers in public places, defying the administrations' requests that their action could lead to an escalation of infections.

At a time when the global concerns related to novel coronavirus increasing by the day, people in the United Kingdom continued to gather in huge numbers in public places, defying the administrations' requests that their action could lead to an escalation of infections. Also read | UK virus 'accelerating' amid fears country on same path as Italy During this weekend, markets, cafes, and parks were packed in the UK despite the death toll standing at 281 and over 50 fatalities in the last 24 hours in the region. (People enjoy the Spring sunshine on the seafront at Whitstable, east of London on March 22, 2020 | Photo Credit: AFP) Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sunday warned that he would take tougher measures if the Britons continue to defy the government's urges of avoiding mass gathering and practicing social isolation. "Please follow the advice and don't think that the fresh air gives you some immunity," Johnson said in a Downing Street press briefing. "If people won't do it, we'll bring in tougher measures." On Sunday, in one of the first hot weekends of 2020, people in large numbers spent time onto the banks of the River Thames. In various parts, people were seen enjoying the sunbath. Johnson earlier warned that Britain was "accelerating" along the same COVID-19 path witnessed by Italy, which has overtaken China with the most number of deaths. "We are only a matter of weeks -- two or three -- behind Italy. The Italians have a superb health care system. And yet their doctors and nurses have been completely overwhelmed by the demand," the PM said. Major concerns about the spread of the deadly virus are troubling Britons as authorities estimate 1.2 million people most at risk. The UK's health system, NHS, is currently under a lot of pressure and officials ask people from most vulnerable groups to stay at home. "People should stay at home, protect our NHS and save lives," Housing secretary Robert Jenrick said.

Boris Johnson warns of tough actions as Britons continue to gather in large numbers