On Monday morning, the English rushed to the terraces of pubs, tasting a little freedom found with the lifting of restrictions linked to the pandemic.
"It's finally happening, after all these months!"
"Exclaims Kobi Wise, 32, enjoying a cold beer at Half Moon, an east London pub in the" beer garden "which he went to when he opened, late at 9 am.
Around him, despite the winter temperatures, a dozen students are spread out over two tables.
In Oxford Street, one of London's main shopping streets, masked shoppers lined up outside clothing stores as early as 5:30 a.m., braving the cold two hours before non-essential shops first reopened.
A reduction in measures made possible thanks to a marked improvement in the health situation in the United Kingdom, the most bereaved country in Europe with more than 127,000 deaths, under the effect of strict confinement and massive vaccination.
Almost 60% of the adult population was able to receive a first dose of the vaccine.
In addition to terraces and shops, the English can also return to sports halls, spas, libraries, the swimming pool and go on vacation in the country.
The deconfinement, which follows a different schedule according to the nations of the country, provides for the reopening of indoor catering in England on May 17, at the same time as hotels, museums, performance halls and stadium stands, with limited capacities.
