TOP HEADLINES:

· US drugmaker Johnson & Johnson has started delivering its vaccines to EU states. The company had initially planned to start its deliveries at the beginning of April, but delayed the roll-out due to production issues.

· England's shops, gyms, hairdressers and pub gardens have reopened, with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson – who had a trim on Monday – hailing it a "major step" in lifting the country's restrictions. On Sunday, England reported its lowest daily death toll since September 14.

· Czechia has reported its lowest daily case rate since September on the same day a six-month state of emergency came to an end, with many pupils returning to the classroom and some schools, libraries and shops reopening.

· Treating coronavirus patients at home with the commonly used asthma drug budesonide could speed up their recovery, according to a UK report. Doctors say the drug could significantly change the way the virus is treated.

· Bulgaria's prime minister Boyko Borissov has revealed that a large new vaccine contract the EU is hoping to agree with Pfizer-BioNTech from 2022 will come at a significantly increased price.

· Complacency and confusion in handling the virus means the pandemic is "a long way from over," World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said. However, he added it could be brought under control in months with proven public health measures.

· Ireland is set to restrict AstraZeneca's Vaxzevria jab to people over the age of 60, with the country's National Immunisation Advisory Committee due to sign off on the issue shortly. 

· Around 200 Dutch tourists are trading lockdown at home for confinement in a Greek resort as part of a test to see if safe holidays can be arranged during the pandemic. They will have "all-inclusive" access to the pools, restaurants and other facilities, but nothing else.

· Germany is set to make regular coronavirus tests compulsory for firms, according to a government draft amendment seen by the Reuters news agency. Chancellor Angela Merkel warned the current wave could be the country's toughest yet.

· The number of coronavirus patients in intensive care in Sweden has hit its highest point since the country's first wave.

· The Netherlands' night-time curfew and other restrictions will remain in place until at least April 28, with the Dutch government crushing hopes of an early easing of lockdown restrictions as daily infections hit a two-week high.

· Ireland has eased restrictions on outside socializing and local travel for the first time this year, allowing people to meet up outdoors for social and recreational purposes from Monday.

AROUND EUROPE

Iolo ap Dafydd in London

Despite snow being forecast, shoppers, outdoor drinkers and diners as well as holidaymakers in the UK are enjoying new freedoms with lockdowns easing significantly in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Outdoor pubs and restaurants, hairdressers, gyms and non-essential shops are among the businesses reopening in England. The same goes for Wales, with cross-border travel between England possible once more. In Northern Ireland, the stay-at-home order has been scrapped and meeting outdoors is allowed. 

However, there are concerns over just how many customers will return – and whether it will be enough for businesses to break even and boost the economy. 

Only two in five hospitality venues have any outdoor space and it's unclear when the inside of pubs and restaurants can reopen. Hairdressers may be booked solid, but the cold snap might be too much for some drinkers and diners to sit outside. 

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Ross Cullen in Paris

France has passed the milestone of 5 million coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic. People in good health over the age of 55 can get vaccinated from today.

AstraZeneca's Vaxzevria shots are available immediately and Johnson & Johnson doses will be ready soon for people over 55, with 200,000 doses from the latter drugmaker expected this week in French pharmacies. 

The time delay between receiving both doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines has been lengthened. Also starting on April 12 in France, self-testing kits with rapid results will now go on sale in pharmacies. 

Around 100 people have been fined in the French city of Toulouse after holding a clandestine dance party. The number of people in intensive care continues to rise in France, with more than 5,800 people currently in urgent care.

Toni Waterman in Brussels

Belgium's ban on non-essential travel should be lifted on April 18 as expected, the country's federal health minister has told VTM News. The ban was put in place in January as new infections spiked.  

However, travel restrictions could be replaced by tighter controls on returning travelers and fines for anyone returning from a red zone who refuses to be tested.

The non-essential travel ban, combined with stricter lockdown measures, has helped reverse infection rates. New cases were down 20 percent last week compared with the week before.

The government and health experts will meet on Wednesday to discuss the possible easing of measures as pressure grows to reopen the hospitality sector on May 1 as originally indicated.

Penelope Liersch in Budapest

Hungary's latest coronavirus data show 291 people died in the past 24 hours, a noticeably high number for the start of the week when data are traditionally lower due to a lag over the weekend. 

More than 10,000 patients remain in hospital, with more than 1,200 on ventilators, but around 2.9 million people have had at least one dose of vaccine so far. 

In Czechia, restrictions are being eased gradually from Monday, with some shops, zoos and botanical gardens allowed to reopen. 

Elementary schools have welcomed back students, using rapid testing, while 15 people can now attend funerals and weddings, and those aged over 65 can register for a vaccine. 

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