The number of people testing positive to COVID-19 has continued to fall in the UK as thousands of partygoers packed nightclubs and bars to celebrate the first weekend of eased restrictions.
The rate of new cases has fallen for the fifth day in a row across the country.
In the past 24 hours, 29,000 new cases were recorded, down from 50,000 new cases just over a week ago.
However, the full effects of the so-called “Freedom Day” changes are yet to be seen.
Venues were packed across England, though further changes loom.
The UK government has mooted vaccine passports for nightclubs, meaning people would have to show proof of being fully vaccinated before being allowed in.
The government also recently announced it could introduce the same measure for Premier League soccer matches, meaning the passport could be coming as soon as October.
Meanwhile, chaos and confusion over travel rules and measures to contain new virus outbreaks are contributing to another cruel summer for Europe’s battered tourism industry.
Popular destination countries are grappling with surging COVID-19 variants, but the patchwork and last-minute nature of the efforts as the peak season gets underway threatens to derail another summer.
In France, the world’s most visited country, visitors to cultural and tourist sites were confronted this week with a new requirement for a special COVID-19 pass.
To get the pass, which comes in paper or digital form, people must prove they’re either fully vaccinated or recently recovered from an infection, or produce a negative virus test. Use of the pass could extend next month to restaurants and cafes.
Italy said last week that people will need a similar pass to access museums and movie theaters, dine inside restaurants and cafes, and get into pools, casinos and a range of other venues.
