UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits a COVID-19 vaccination center on December 29, 2021 in Milton Keynes, England. Some 45.2 percent of the UK population have received either a third vaccine or booster shot as of Christmas week. The UK reported more than 128,600 COVID-19 infections on December 28. The country has recorded over 12.3 million cases in total.

 England on Thursday lifted coronavirus restrictions imposed to tackle the Omicron variant, with masks no longer required in enclosed places and vaccine passports shelved.

The number of positive COVID-19 cases has fallen sharply over the past two weeks and although infections are still at high levels, they have plateaued in recent days.

The British government introduced the so-called "Plan B" restrictions on December 8, 2021, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned of a looming "tidal wave" of Omicron.

Face masks were required in all enclosed spaces and, controversially, vaccine documentation also was to enter places such as nightclubs, football grounds and large-scale events.

On the streets of London around St Paul's Cathedral, there was general support for the lifting of restrictions, which comes after more than 37 million people had booster jabs.

"I think it's a really good thing," said Ms Elizabeth Hynes, 71, who is originally from Ireland but has lived in England for 47 years.

"I was coming up the lifts here at St Paul's and I was looking at all the shows (being advertised)," she said of the posters inside the underground station.

Ms Hynes said she had stage four melanoma skin cancer, but had so far "been lucky" and not caught COVID-19.

"We don't know about tomorrow, we have to live... for today, trying to get a bit of enjoyment out of life," she added.

Ms Julia, 28, from Spain, said it was time to "have a normal life."

"It has been two years and it's time to take responsibility ourselves," she said as she waited for the St Paul's eatery in which she works to open.

"In Spain, we need to wear masks everywhere, even in the street," she added.

"(Even if) there's nobody in the street... you need to wear the mask. On the beach, you need to wear the mask.

England previously lifted restrictions on July 19, so-called "Freedom Day", but then introduced new rules as the Omicron wave arrived. From Thursday, passengers on London's transport network will still be required to wear face masks but these will no longer be mandatory in secondary school classrooms.