Non-essential shops and beauty salons are open in England and Wales for the first time in months, as Covid rules are eased across the UK. England's gyms, zoos and hairdressers have also reopened, while restaurants and pubs can welcome customers outside. Some pubs opened just after midnight, while long queues have formed outside shops around the country. Pupils are returning to school full time in Scotland and Wales, while Northern Ireland's "stay-at-home" order is ending. A further seven UK deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid test were reported on Sunday, the lowest daily total since 14 September
Here's a look at what's been happening so far today:
For the first time in months, pub gardens, shops and hairdressers are reopening in England.It comes as Northern Ireland's "stay-at-home" order is ending and some rules are also being relaxed in Scotlandand Wales. Chilly temperatures have so far appeared to do little to dampen enthusiasm for outdoor pints or early-morning queuing for shops and salons.And there were queues as shoppers rushed back to the High Street on MondayThe government has announced a review covering David Cameron's efforts to lobby ministers on behalf of finance firm Greensill Capital - to increase the firm's access to a government-backed emergency loans scheme for firms hit by the Covid pandemic. And an update to England and Wales' contact tracing app, intended to coincide with the easing of restrictions, has been blocked for breaking the terms of an agreement made with Apple and
Elsewhere, China's top disease control official has said the efficacy of the country's Covid vaccines is low, in a rare admission of weakness
A group of nearly 200 Dutch people are taking an experimental controlled holiday in Greece - to see how practical such trips are