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• Protesters marched in cities across France for the fourth weekend in a row, against a new health pass needed to enter a cafe or travel on an inter-city train. Already in place in nightclubs and museums, the new rules will make it mandatory to either be fully vaccinated, to have a negative test or to have recently recovered from the virus to enjoy many routine activities - including drinking a coffee on a French terrace.

• Similar demonstrations were also held in Italy, with protests against rules covering activities such as eating inside a restaurant or attending indoor events. Poland also saw demonstrations against proposals to bring in its own health pass, as so-called 'vaccine passports' are increasingly being used across Europe to limit entry to public places and encourage vaccinations.

• The UK has moved France to its amber coronavirus travel list, meaning fully vaccinated travelers from France no longer need to quarantine on arrival. Also, those returning from Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Slovenia, Latvia, Romania and Norway will no longer need to quarantine, regardless of vaccination status.

• Spain has once again extended the ten-day quarantine imposed on passengers arriving from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Bolivia, Namibia and South Africa, nations considered to be high risk.

• Coronavirus could increase a patient's risk from heart attacks and strokes, according to a Swedish study of over 400,000 people infected by the virus. The research shows the risk of a heart attack was three to eight times higher in the first week after testing positive, with the potential of a first stroke rising three- to six-fold. 

• In Berlin there was a "thank you" dinner for 3,000 people held on the runway of the former Tegel airport. Attendees had to provide proof of being vaccinated, recovered or have a negative test.  The tables were arranged to spell out 'Berlin loves you!' The aim of the event was to announce that Germany was open to visitors, as well as saying farewell to the old airport.

• As the Tokyo Olympics came to an end, organizers said it had been a successful games, despite the uncertainty and delay caused by the pandemic. In total, they said, they were aware of 19 athletes who were not able to take part in their events as a result of COVID-19.

• The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Germany increased by 3,127 on Sunday, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases. The reported death toll rose by 4 to 91,782.

• In the UK, recent weeks have seen a decline in the number of cases, but the numbers have been on the rise for the past few days. On Saturday 28,612 cases were reported, up from 26,144 a week earlier, while 103 deaths were reported, bringing the seven-day figure to 627, up 28 percent on the previous week and it takes the total deaths within 28 days of a COVID-19 test to 130,281.

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AROUND EUROPE

Iolo ap Dafydd in London

Quarantine-free travel from the UK is being resumed to a number of countries within Europe. British citizens can travel to Austria, Germany, Norway, Slovenia, Slovakia, Latvia and Romania. 

And as fears of variants fall, vaccinated visitors across the channel in France will be able to travel and return, also without quarantine. Ferry companies say they are seeing a surge in bookings, but business is still likely to be roughly 25 percent of previous years. 

The issue of hospital waiting times continues in the UK, with National Health Service officials in England warning the number of those waiting for treatment could reach 14 million next autumn. 

Currently five million people are waiting for what are considered routine procedures. The government has allocated $1.39 billion to try to reduce the waiting lists.

​​Ross Cullen in Paris

There is going to be a slight easing of the rules surrounding negative PCR tests in France. The health secretary says that negative test results can now be up to 72 hours old for people who want to use that to show their COVID-19 health pass. The previous limit was a test that was no more than 48 hours old. 

From Monday, the use of health passes will come into effect in bars, restaurants, hospitals, and on long-distance public transport. Similar coronavirus passes - which show proof of vaccination or a recent negative test - have been introduced in other European countries, but the French system, which includes compulsory vaccinations for health workers, is perhaps the most far-reaching.

Attracting protesters from across France's political spectrum, more than 237,000 people demonstrated in 198 different marches on Saturday, the biggest numbers seen yet in opposition to the new measures. 

Italy

Large-scale protests also broke out in Italy on Saturday against rules requiring people to show a proof of coronavirus status to attend indoor events and access higher education.

Thousands gathered in Rome, Milan, and Naples to decry the new rules brought in on Friday making it compulsory to show 'The Green Pass' in order to enter cinemas, museums and indoor sports venues or to eat indoors at restaurants. 

​​The certificate proves bearers have either been vaccinated, recovered from the virus within the past six months, or have tested negative in the previous 48 hours. School and university staff will need the pass, as will university students, while from September 1, the pass will also be needed on domestic flights and long-distance trains.

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