The government wants to ease quarantine measures for pubs, restaurants and weddings more quickly in an attempt to avert a potential job crisis in the hospitality industry.

The measures, which will be unveiled this week, would include, among other things, allowing cafes and restaurants to use outdoor spaces from the beginning of July and to hold weddings and funerals with up to ten people indoors. Hairdressers may be able to reopen before July 4, the newspaper said.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is said to have signed the new measures Friday evening after meeting Finance Minister Rishi Sunak. Johnson also wants to reduce the social distance from two meters to one, if justified by scientific evidence.

The UK economy is faltering by measures taken to curb the spread of the coronavirus. More than 40,000 Britons have died from the effects of lung disease, the highest death toll in Europe and the second worldwide. In recent weeks, the government has begun to gently ease restrictions. However, health authorities in the country are warning that the transmission speed is still high in some areas and are concerned about the relaxations.