UK virus cases rise, Sri Lanka eases curbs

Sri Lankan authorities are allowing the reopening of cinemas and restaurants and also permitting wedding receptions as a part of the easing of COVID-19 related restrictions.

Cinemas will be open from next week but with only 25 per cent occupancy.

Restaurants will be allowed to cater to a maximum 50 customers at a time.

Wedding receptions are also permitted but with a maximum of 50 guests.

Banks can accommodate only five clients at a time while gyms can have a maximum of 10.

The government's move to ease restrictions comes amid a sharp decline in COVID-19 cases and deaths over the past few weeks.

However, the government still continues with the ban on public gatherings while restrictions are imposed on public transport and trains are still halted.

The United Arab Emirates on Sunday recorded a drop in daily COVID-19 cases to below 100 for the first time since the start of the outbreak last year as it hosts a huge world fair to which it hopes to attract millions of visits.

The Health Ministry reported 99 new cases, down from a peak of nearly 4000 a day in January.

The UAE's cumulative death toll stands at 2120.

The regional tourism and business hub, which still largely requires masks in public places, has one of the world's highest immunisation rates.

About 96 per cent of the population of roughly 10 million have received one vaccine dose while 86 per cent are fully vaccinated, according to latest official data.

Other Gulf Arab states including Saudi Arabia have also had daily coronavirus cases fall to below 100.

The UK on Sunday reported 45,140 new cases - the highest daily number since the middle of July - and 57 new deaths within 28 days of a positive test, according to official data.

Separate figures published by the Office for National Statistics show there have been 163,000 deaths registered in the UK where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

with AP and PA

Australian Associated Press