Germany announces the lifting of restrictions on travellers from the UK from Wednesday 7 July.The Duchess of Cambridge is required to self-isolate after coming into contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID, meaning that she misses events to mark the 73rd anniversary of the National Health Service, which are attended by her husband, the Duke of Cambridge.It will see an end to the compulsory wearing of masks, of social distancing, the rule of six in private homes and the work from home rule. Prime Minister Boris Johnson sets out the last stage of the road map for lifting restrictions, expected to be on 19 July.A group of business leaders under the banner of London First write an open letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson urging ministers to "set the country clearly on the path to recovery" by encouraging people to return to the office.Mick Antoniw, the Counsel General for Wales, says that Wales is "moving to a stage where we are having increasing normality". The Scottish Government says there will be an "ongoing need" for face masks after its restrictions are fully lifted on 9 August. Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick says that from 19 July England will move into a period when legal restrictions are lifted and people will have to exercise "personal responsibility", including whether or not to wear a face mask.Downing Street confirms that Prime Minister Boris Johnson will set out the final stages of the road map out of lockdown at a press conference the following day.As COVID cases rise again, the British Medical Association calls for some COVID restrictions to remain in England beyond 19 July, the day set for the final lifting of all restrictions.Following reports that the EU's vaccine passport scheme does not recognise the AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured by India's Serum Institute, Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he is "very confident" there "will not prove to be a problem" for travellers who have received the vaccine.On her final official visit to the UK, German Chancellor Angela Merkel announces that double vaccinated people from the UK should be able to travel to Germany without having to quarantine "in the foreseeable future".Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces he will set out the final step of the roadmap for lifting restrictions in England in the next few days, and says he hopes that life will return to as close as possible to its pre-pandemic status.Figures from HM Revenue & Customs show a million people came off the scheme during May 2021, with 2.4 million employees covered by it at the end of the month, the lowest number of workers on furlough during the pandemic.
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme begins to wind down, with plans for it to cease at the end of September.