TOP HEADLINES

· Starting today, travelers who have been fully vaccinated in the EU or the U.S. don't have to quarantine upon arrival in the UK, even if they're coming from "amber list" countries. 

· But the easing of travel restriction was not without controversy in the UK, as it was considered too little for critics and too hasty a move for those concerned with rising infections. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is under significant pressure to further lift travel restrictions this week, as airline bosses push for more countries to be added to the "green list" and Chancellor Rishi Sunak said the country is "out of step" with international competitors. But UK scientists warn the easing of restrictions is risky.

· As many as 600 people were arrested in Berlin on Sunday after thousands showed up to protest against COVID-19 restrictions, despite demonstrations being banned because of fears about the spread of the Delta variant.

· Italy sent 1.5 million vaccine doses to crisis-hit Tunisia on Sunday, after the U.S. donated a million doses of the Moderna jab on Friday to help the country fight a new outbreak of infections.

· Germany has plans to start offering a third booster shot to the elderly and at-risk patients starting from September 1, according to a draft document seen by AFP. The initiative is backed up by data showing that protection from the virus declines with time.

· The UK is set to offer booster jabs to 32 million Britons starting as early as next month, according to reports in The Daily Telegraph.

· Pfizer and Moderna have allegedly raised the prices of their COVID-19 vaccines in the latest supply contract with the European Union, according to a report in The Financial Times on Sunday. The two companies either declined, or were not available, to comment about the report, citing confidentiality.

· Tests of surfaces and air at four major rail stations and on intercity trains in the UK found no trace of COVID-19 in swabs or air samples.

· French immunologist Alain Fischer told RTL reporters that herd immunity in France was "possible" at "the beginning of autumn," when 90 percent of the population would be vaccinated.

· Top U.S. infectious diseases expert Anthony Fauci said the country won't go back to a lockdown, despite a surge in cases linked to the spread of the Delta variant.

· Army troops will enforce stay-at-home orders in Sydney, Australia, after the government extended the lockdown to stop the spread of the Delta variant in the country's largest city.

ACROSS EUROPE 

Trent Murray in Berlin 

The latest data from Germany's Robert Koch Institute show there have been 847 new cases recorded in the country. That's roughly 12 percent down on the same day last week. 

Health Minister Jens Spahn will meet today with his state counterparts to discuss the next phase of Germany's vaccination campaign. 

Several media reports suggest third, booster, shots could be on the way for elderly patients and the clinically vulnerable.

It is also expected that official vaccination advice may soon be expanded to include children between 12 and 17. 

Currently, 52 percent of Germany's population has received both vaccine doses, while 61.6 percent has received at least one shot.

Penelope Liersch in Budapest  

As of the beginning of August, Hungary is allowing the administration of third doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

Those looking to have a third jab must consult and book through their GP or vaccine center and it will be up to medical staff to choose which vaccine people can have. 

In most cases people are being asked to wait four months after their second dose. So far, 5.62 million first doses vaccines have been given in Hungary and 5.44 million second doses, with the vaccination rate slowing considerably over the past few months. 

From September, all health workers must be able to show they are vaccinated against COVID-19 unless they have an exemption. 

Meanwhile Czechia's Prime Minister Andrej Babis has said all regional administrations and other state agencies should give staff two days' holiday if they've been vaccinated. 

The leader's statement came following backlash over the government's announcement that civil servants would receive two days of extra paid leave without offering the same for other workers such as teachers. Vaccinated members of the police force, firefighters, state health workers and soldiers will also receive the extra holidays.

FROM OUR GLOBAL COLLEAGUES

CGTN Europe: Cambodia to mix-and-match Sinovac, Sinopharm and AstraZeneca vaccines

CGTN China: Chinese mainland reports 98 new confirmed COVID-19 cases

CGTN America: Fauci says unvaccinated Americans are 'propagating latest outbreak' as Delta spreads

CGTN Africa: U.S. Iraq and Middle East policy faces hard challenges

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.