TOP HEADLINES

• All coronavirus restrictions are expected to be lifted in England on July 19, known as "Freedom Day," including the laws on mask-wearing and social distancing. On Monday, other changes also included the planned reopening of nightclubs, an end to legal limits on the number of people who can attend events and the end of guidance to work from home.

• Germany is to end its ban on visitors from the UK, Portugal, Russia, India and Nepal on Wednesday. Visitors who are fully vaccinated will not be required to quarantine on arrival. Non-vaccinated people will be able end their 10-day quarantine period early if they test negative after five days. 

• The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine appears less effective at preventing the Delta variant from spreading but remains highly effective at preventing hospitalization, according to data from the Israeli health ministry. From June 6 to July 2, the inoculation demonstrated 64 percent efficacy at preventing cases and 94 percent effectiveness at preventing hospitalizations. 

• Coronavirus cases in Spain have spiked and more than 32,000 new infections were announced on Monday, up from infections in single figures announced the previous week. Young people have been most affected, according to authorities, with 640 cases per 100,000 among the 20-29 age group. Some 40 percent of the country has received two doses of the vaccine. 

• Due to the spread of the Delta variant, France's government spokesman has said the country could suffer a rise in cases by the end of the month. 

• Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel remains in a "serious but stable" condition after being admitted to hospital with COVID-19 on Sunday, said the government. 

• A new variant has been added to the list by the World Health Organization (WHO) named Lambda, found in at least 27 different countries. Listed as a "variant of interest" by the WHO, it is especially widespread across South America but it has also found its way to Europe. 

• The entire England cricket team has been forced to self-isolate after seven players and four staff members tested positive. The country will now select an entirely new squad for the One Day International series with Pakistan.

AROUND EUROPE

Nicole Johnston in London

UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid says the country could reach 100,000 new COVID-19 infections per day by the middle of the summer as the Delta variant continues to spread.

The UK is being watched around the world as it aims to fully unlock on July 19, even while the number of infections is rising.  But the rate of hospitalizations and deaths has fallen significantly since the peak of the second wave of the pandemic in January. Meanwhile, the last stage of the UK's plan to unlock has been criticized for removing the requirement for people to wear a mask on public transport and inside retail shops. 

On Tuesday, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson will be setting out plans in parliament to change the isolation rules for school bubbles after one child becomes infected.

Toni Waterman in Brussels 

Unlike other countries, the Belgian Superior Health Council says adolescents aged 12-15 should only be vaccinated if they are vulnerable or in close contact with someone who is vulnerable and it insists the decision be made freely. 

"They must be clearly informed that the individual benefits of the vaccine are low for this age group and that very rare risks of adverse effects are possible," said Yves Van Laethem, interfederal spokesperson and president of the vaccination section of the CSS. 

The Flemish government, however, is in favor of offering the jab to children aged 12-15. Belgium is racing to fully vaccinate as many people as possible as the highly transmissible Delta variant rips across the country. New infections were up 52 percent in the past week to an average 506 cases a day. The Delta variant is now the dominant strain. 

Penelope Liersch in Budapest

The number of people hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Hungary has jumped from three to 43 in 24 hours. 

Virus figures have been dropping in all areas, with zero deaths recorded last week. Over the weekend, a further four deaths were recorded and two on Monday. It's unclear yet if the rise in serious infections requiring hospital treatment is due to a lag in data or the Delta variant. 

In neighboring Czechia the number of new infections has started to rise again due to the Delta variant, however the number of hospitalizations and deaths are still decreasing. 

Hungary has vaccinated more than 5.5 million people with one dose of vaccine and more than 5 million have had a second dose. 

Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has praised Russia's Minister of Industry and Trade for helping deliver the Sputnik V jab for Hungary's vaccine campaign. He said without Gyenisz Manturov the country would not have managed to vaccinate so many people. One million Hungarians have received the Russian vaccine.

Ross Cullen in Paris

The Delta Plus variant has been "sporadically detected" in France, says the country's public health agency, which is testing and checking more data about the new mutation of the variant first identified in India. 

The French government is continuing to consider making vaccinations compulsory for healthcare workers. The health ministry is hoping that any possible fourth wave of infections could be partially controlled by the fact that more than 51 percent of the population has now had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

The traditional summer holidays are under way – which was the spark last year for the second wave of cases in the fall.

FROM OUR GLOBAL COLLEAGUES

CGTN Europe: Why is the UK government no longer worried about COVID-19 cases?

CGTN China: Chinese mainland reports 23 new confirmed COVID-19 cases

CGTN America: Biden says COVID-19 not yet 'vanquished' as U.S. marks Independence Day

CGTN Africa: Pandemic could cause 'famine of biblical proportions,' warns UN World Food Programme

Sign up here to get the COVID-19 Europe bulletin sent directly to your inbox.

CGTN Europe has been providing in-depth coverage of the novel coronavirus story as it has unfolded.