A part of Europe, as of Monday will be Deconfined

After weeks of staying at home, part of Europe is cautiously starting to find fresh air, with first deconfinement measures taking effect on Monday in several countries.

One and a half million cases of contamination by the new coronavirus have been officially diagnosed in Europe, just under half of the world total, according to a count made by AFP on Saturday at 11:50 a.m. At least 1,506,853 cases, for 140,260 deaths, Europe is the continent most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. A total of 3,350,224 cases and 238,334 deaths worldwide have been recorded.

In Italy certain sectors (building, automobile, luxury …), work began to resume on April 27, and from Monday, Italians will be able to visit their families and meet in limited numbers. The parks will reopen, while maintaining social distancing.

– The manufacturing sector, the construction sector and the wholesale trade for these sectors will be open;
– Bars and restaurants will have the right to sell take-out and full reopening will take place on June 1, just like that of beauty or hair salons;
– On May 18, all retail businesses will be able to reopen, as well as museums, cultural places and libraries;
– Only the schools will remain closed until September.

Travel will continue to be limited within the municipality of residence and linked only to work and health requirements.

While Italy must begin its gradual deconfinement on Monday, the positive ebb of the pandemic seems to continue since without these 282 deaths hitherto unaccounted for, the number of deaths in 24 hours falls below 200 (192) , which has not happened since March 14.

It is now nearly 29,000 people (28,710) who were killed by the coronavirus in the peninsula, the first country hit hard in Europe, and one of the most bereaved with the United States, the United Kingdom, the Spain and France.

« I implore you, do not lower your guard, » said Saturday morning, before the publication of these figures, the head of the cell responsible for responding to the pandemic, Domenico Arcuri. “On Monday, phase II begins. We must be aware that this will be the start of an even greater challenge, « said the official.

The figures are also positive in terms of cures (1,665), a decrease in hospitalizations, whether in standard services (17,357) or in intensive care (1,539), and a decrease in the number of patients identified (100,704), at their lowest since April 11.

Domenico Arcuri had warned the Italians that « the relative freedom » they would win on Monday would be called into question if the contagion resumes. « We have to maintain social distancing, a maximum level of hygiene and masks. We have done our utmost with our capabilities. As of Monday, it depends on you, ”he warned.

Spain (215,216 cases, 24,824 deaths), Italy (207,428, 28,236), the United Kingdom (177,454, 27,510), France (167,346, 24,594) and Germany (161,703, 6,575) are the five countries Europeans officially counting more than 150,000 cases on their territory, while Russia (124,054, 1,222) is the one that currently registers the highest number of new cases daily.

This number of diagnosed cases, however, only reflects a fraction of the actual number of infections, with many countries now testing only those cases requiring hospital care.

In Spain, the extremely strict confinement of the country was relaxed on April 26 with the authorization to go out for an hour’s walk with an adult for children and, since Saturday, with the authorization for those over 14 years of age to play sports. individually or walk under strict conditions.

From Monday, some small shops like:
– hairdressers will be able to receive clients individually by appointment;
– bars and restaurants will have the right to sell take-out;
– the mask will be compulsory in transport;
– in some small Balearic and Canary Islands, most shops, museums and the terraces of bars and restaurants will be allowed to reopen with limited capacities, as will hotels under conditions;
– the rest of the country will follow on May 11.
Cinemas and theaters will normally reopen two weeks later. Schools will be closed until September.

Until the end of deconfinement, the Spanish will not be able to move outside their province.

In Vienna, they returned to the animation of an ordinary Saturday with the reopening of all the stores and the return of a large clientele, expected with masks, disinfectant gel and sales at most of the stores.

Austria has already authorized the reopening of certain non-essential businesses. Big food, hairdressers and outdoor sports facilities (tennis, golf, etc.) reopened this weekend.

– Travel restrictions are lifted, gatherings are allowed up to 10 people, with respect for social distance;
– On Monday, the graduating high school students will return to school in a set setting, before a gradual return for the others;
– Restaurants are expected to reopen in mid-May;
– Mask required in transport and shops.
– A new step in lifting restrictions on the new coronavirus: the commercial areas of more than 400 m² have reopened, fifteen days after the small businesses were restarted.

This recovery, combined with the official end of the exit restrictions since Friday, has drained a crowd that commercial areas had not known since mid-March and the cessation of activities.

Austria was one of the first countries in Europe to begin its deconstruction. The next phase will be the reopening of cafes and restaurants on May 15. The school will resume, for the most part, on May 18.

While calling for caution, the authorities estimate that the epidemic, which killed 596 people in 15,508 reported cases in the country, is currently under control with an infection rate or a reproduction rate of 0.67.

Germany most stores of less than 800 square meters reopened on April 20.

– From Monday, schools will gradually reopen in some Länder (Saarland, Saxony-Anhalt, Bremen);
– Hairdressers will reopen;
– places of worship, museums, memorials, zoos;
– Cultural places, bars, restaurants – except for deliveries,- playgrounds, sports fields, remain closed;
– Major gatherings will be banned at least until 31 August.

Gradually compulsory mask in transport and shops.

Bookshops and car dealers will reopen in Portugal on Monday.
– The local trade, up to 200 m2, overlooking the street, will be able to reopen, with compulsory mask;
– Hair and aesthetic salons can also be arranged by appointment;
– Some public services, such as tax centers, will reopen by appointment, with compulsory mask;
– In public transport, the mask is mandatory;
– Individual outdoor sports are permitted;
– The high schools, museums, art galleries, restaurants and cafes will reopen on May 18;
– Theaters and cinemas on June 1st, with rules of social distance.

The Polish government has announced the opening of hotels, shopping centers, some cultural institutions, including libraries and some museums on Monday.

From Wednesday, crèches and kindergartens will be reopened, but the local authorities on which they depend have announced that most of them will remain closed.

Hungary, reopening of cafe terraces and restaurants, beaches and public baths. Resuming professional sports 

training. Mask required in transport and shops.
The capital of Hungary will remain confined.

Reopening Monday of cafes and restaurants with social distance, public transport, intercity trains and long distance buses with compulsory mask.
Shopping malls will open on May 8, kindergartens will open on May 11.
Curfew is maintained in Serbia.

Some shops, museums, libraries, and public transport reopened last week in Croatia.
Religious gatherings have been allowed since Saturday.
On Monday, services involving close contact with the client, such as hairdressers, will be able to reopen.
On May 11, terraces, bars and restaurants will be in the vicinity. Meetings will be allowed for up to 10 people and kindergartens and schools will be reopened on a voluntary basis.

Nearly 10% of the closed shops will be able to reopen on Monday in Greece:
– bookstores;
– hairdressing and beauty salons;
– electronics and sports equipment stores;
– gardeners.
On May 11, all other stores will be open except shopping centers, which will be closed until June 1.

In Iceland, universities, museums and hairdressers reopen on Monday.

Denmark and Norway, in a « semi-containment »  regime,  were among the first European countries to ease  their 

restrictions. The Danes were the first to return to school on April 15.

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