People wearing masks to prevent COVID-19 in London, England. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

From Monday in England gatherings of up to 30 people will be allowed outdoors, two families will be allowed to meet indoors; cafes, bars and restaurants will reopen for indoor service; care home residents will be allowed to have five visitors; and face coverings will no longer be compulsory in schools.

Though the rules are slightly different in the United Kingdom’s four constituent parts, restrictions are being eased in England, Scotland, and Wales from Monday while they will be eased slightly later in Northern Ireland.

The UK’s official death toll is more than 127,000 - Europe’s highest figure and the world’s fifth highest, after the US, Brazil, India and Mexico.

The British economy last year had its worst decline in three centuries while the government spent hundreds of billions of pounds to save jobs and companies and the Bank of England doubled its bond buying program.