European nations to ease restrictions after Coronavirus Lockdown

Note: We will keep updating this article, as we receive more information.

European economies coming back to life gradually! After following strict movement restrictions during the lockdown, several European countries are planning to open their economies gradually. Now everyone is concerned that when things will come back to normal. When will governments will ease restrictions and allow some sort of movement? These are the questions on everyone's minds. In this article, we will inform you that some European nations have started relaxing restrictions and allowing small businesses to open. Even US President Trump has hinted at reopening some businesses.

Austria has made a detailed plan to become the first country in Europe to open small shops from April 14 and large ones from May 1. Austria took early action while imposing curbs on its people and has been successful in flattening the curve of infections this gave them the opportunity to come back to normalcy faster. Also, Denmark is also planning to relax restrictions on movement after Easter. However, it advised citizens to work in a staggered way to avoid crowding in buses and trains.

Also Read: Countries consider re-opening to international students amid COVID 19 crisis

This gives us hope in this turbulence times. Italy, which has been under lockdown for a longer period than any other European nation is getting ready to live with the virus by using more masks and dedicated healthcare infrastructure. Health minister Roberto Speranza has said more testing and a beefed-up local health system would be necessary to allow an easing of the lockdown. He said social distancing would have to remain in place, with the more widespread use of personal protective equipment such as facemasks.

Europe's biggest economy, Germany is also planning to open schools, shops, and restaurants if the infection rate remains below 1. It means that on average each patient is infecting less than one person. If that is achieved, schools and shops could be reopened gradually and restaurants could open with limiting the number of people getting access to them.

One more Nordic country, Denmark, which was one of the first in Europe to announce curbs and social distancing measures has seen the number of COVID-19 related hospitalizations and deaths stabilize over the past week. It has planned to reopen daycare centers and schools on April 15.

"This will probably be a bit like walking the tightrope. If we stand still along the way we could fall and if we go too fast it can go wrong. Therefore, we must take one cautious step at a time," Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told a media briefing.

The gathering of more than 10 people would stay in place until May 10 and ban on larger gatherings would remain in place until August.

After Italy, one of the worst countries hit by Coronavirus, Spain is also planning to do more tests and a partial return to economic activity. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has said that some economic restrictions could be lifted after Easter, allowing some people in non-essential jobs to return to work. All this indicates that Europe is planning to reopen its economy partially by easing restrictions gradually.

Even China has opened Wuhan after a 76-day lockdown. At around 12.00 a.m. on April 8, Authorities allowed traffic to move out of the capital of the central Hubei province where the coronavirus was first reported, the daily Global Times reported.

Health officials across Europe have warned that things cannot become as usual immediately and many lockdown measures will remain in place for several more weeks.

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