UK to further relax pandemic restrictions starting next week

London (Quantum Commodity Intelligence) - The UK is set to ease lockdown measures next week and allow people to meet indoors, with Prime Minster Boris Johnson following plans laid out in February to remove all restrictions by mid-June, according to a statement by the PM's office Monday.

At the moment up to two households or a group of up to six people are allowed to meet in outdoor spaces, including outside spaces belonging to restaurants and other hospitality venues.

As well as allowing pubs, cafes and restaurants to allow customers to sit inside, other venues such as cinemas and sports venues will be able to reopen their doors to the public in a limited capacity.

The UK is the world's fifth-largest economy and an important demand centre for both crude oil and refined products, as well as exporting its own crude from North Sea oilfields.

Road fuel sales stats showed that demand was edging closer to pre-covid levels at the start of May.

The roadmap set out earlier this year allowed a phased reopening of the economy provisional on vaccination, infection and covid deaths data supporting the move each time.

"The data reflects what we already knew - we are not going to let this virus beat us," Johnson said, according to the statement.

"The roadmap remains on track, our successful vaccination programme continues - more than two-thirds of adults in the UK have now had the first vaccine - and we can now look forward to unlocking cautiously but irreversibly."

The next key date is June 21, the final step on the roadmap and the earliest date that all restrictions on businesses and public gatherings will be removed.