Over 1,882 people in Britain test positive for COVID-19 as UK records 10 deaths

According to official figures released Sunday, another 1,882 people in the United Kingdom have tested positive for COVID-19, taking the total number of coronavirus cases in the world to 4,387,820.

The country also reported another 10 coronavirus-related deaths. The total number of coronavirus-related deaths in Britain now stands at 127,270. These figures only include the deaths of people who died within 28 days of their first positive test.

More than 32.8 million people have been given the first jab of the coronavirus vaccine, according to the latest official figures.

Meanwhile, leaders of Britain's biggest hospitality businesses have signed an open letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson urging him to "stick" with England's roadmap to exit the lockdown and reopen the economy.

The letter published in the Sunday Telegraph said two-thirds of hospitality venues "couldn't open outdoors from 12 April, and none is breaking even".

"The prime minister set out the right path. He should stick to it and not let it be derailed by talk of vaccine passports in pubs and restaurants," said the signatories.

As England further eases its lockdown, all shops reopened from Monday along with hairdressers, beauty salons and other close-contact services.

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Restaurants and pubs were allowed to serve food and alcohol to customers sitting outdoors. Meanwhile, gyms, spas, zoos, theme parks, libraries and community centers can all open.

On May 17, restaurants and pubs are expected be allowed to resume indoor service and see most rules on gathering outdoors lifted.

Experts have cautioned that, despite progress in vaccine deployment, Britain is "still not out of the woods" due to concerns about new variants, especially those first seen in South Africa, Brazil, and India, as well as the European continent's third pandemic wave.

Countries such as the United Kingdom, China, Russia, the United States, and the European Union have been racing to restore normalcy.