Spain, Italy and other European countries are further easing their coronavirus lockdown restrictions starting with May 18.
Spain has slightly eased restrictions on some of its least affected islands.
In Italy, most businesses, including bars and hairdressers, are reopening after more than two months of nationwide lockdown measures.
The measures follow consistent drops in the number of daily recorded deaths.
On May 17, Italy recorded the fewest daily deaths since it entered lockdown in March.
According to Italian officials, 145 people had died with the virus in the previous 24 hours. This marked a significant drop from its highest daily death toll, which was more than 900 on March 27.
In Spain, the daily death toll fell below 100 for the first time since it imposed its lockdown restrictions.
However, officials are warning that complacency over the virus could lead to a second wave of infections.
Restaurants, bars, cafes, hairdressers and shops have been allowed to reopen in Italy, providing social distancing is enforced.
Almost 32,000 people in Italy have died in the pandemic, and the economy is expected to shrink by nearly 10% this year.
Catholic churches are resuming Mass, but there is strict social distancing and worshippers must wear face masks. Other faiths are also being allowed to hold religious services.
However, health officials have warned of the continued dangers of large social gatherings.
Pope Francis held a private Mass at St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, which has been disinfected ahead of its reopening to tourists.
The Mass honored the late Pope John Paul II, 100 years after his birth in Poland.
Spain’s health ministry said on April 13 that the daily number of deaths had dipped slightly, with 517 reported in the previous 24 hours, compared with 619 announced on April 12. The official total death toll is now 17,489.
The number of new infections continues to drop, with 3,477 confirmed cases bringing the total to 169,496.
PM Pedro Sánchez warned over the weekend: “We are still far from victory, from the moment when we will recover normality in our lives.”
“We are all keen to go back out on the streets… but our desire is even greater to win the war and prevent a relapse,” the prime minister added.
On April 13, the government lifted some of the restrictions put in place on March 27 and allowed businesses whose employees cannot work remotely to reopen.
Officials intend to distribute 10 million face masks on public transport.
Pedro Sánchez said the decision was taken after consulting a committee of experts.
The prime minister also noted that Spain had not entered the “second phase” of the fight against the coronavirus, when there would be any further loosening of the lockdown. That was at least two weeks away and would “be very gradual”, he added.
Builders can only work in areas away from local residents, so they cannot yet go back to doing home improvements.
Spain’s deaths number from the
coronavirus has surpassed the official figure from China, becoming the second
highest in the world.
The death toll has risen by 738 in
just 24 hours to a total of 3,434 – a record spike for Spain.
In comparison, China has officially
reported 3,285 deaths, while Italy – the worst affected country – has 6,820.
Spain’s PM Pedro Sánchez will later
ask lawmakers to extend his country’s state of emergency for another two weeks.
Lawmakers are expected to agree to
the prime minister’s request for lockdown measures to stay in place until April
11. Under the rules, people are banned from leaving home except for buying
essential supplies and medicines, or for work.
According to data compiled by Johns
Hopkins University, globally there are nearly 440,000 cases of the virus, with
deaths approaching 20,000 and more than 100,000 people having recovered.
On March 25, the UN said the virus
was “threatening the whole of humanity” as it launched a $2 billion appeal
for the world’s poorest people.
UN Secretary-General António
Guterres said: “Global action and
solidarity are crucial. Individual country responses are not going to be
enough.”
On March 25, figures released by the
health ministry show that in just 24 hours, Spain’s national death toll rose by
738. The country’s number of cases soared by 7,973.
These are the highest figures for Spain in a single day. Spain now has 47,610 confirmed cases. Catalonia accounts for close to 10,000 of those, while the Basque Country and Andalusia both have more than 3,000 cases. However, the worst affected region is the area around the capital Madrid, which has recorded 14,597 cases.
France has ordered the closure of all
non-essential places used by the public from March 14 midnight as the
coronavirus outbreak spreads.
Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said the number of people in intensive care
was growing and earlier guidelines for the public were being ignored.
The measure applies to restaurants,
cafes, cinemas and nightclubs as well as non-essential businesses.
It would not, the prime minister
said, affect essential businesses which he listed as food shops, chemists,
banks, tobacco shops and petrol stations.
Edouard Philippe also asked people
to reduce their travel, especially between towns.
“The best way to slow down the epidemic is social
distancing,” he said.
“I say this gravely – we must all together show greater
discipline in the application of these measures,” the prime minister added.
However, local elections due on
March 15 would also still go ahead, he said. Religious buildings would remain
open but gatherings and ceremonies should be postponed.
France reported a sharp rise in
cases on March 14, from 3,661 to 4,499. It recorded 12 more deaths, bringing
the toll to 79.
Meanwhile, Spain has confirmed a 15-day lockdown as part of emergency
measures.
There will also be a reduction in
medium-distance rail traffic to stem the spread of people around the country,
and economic measures to support businesses and workers.
After a lengthy meeting of the
country’s government cabinet, Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez said a partial lockdown
would be in place across the country, with the armed forces on standby to
assist with relief efforts.
All stores will be forced to close,
except for those selling food and other basic necessities.
Pedro Sánchez said the state of
emergency could be extended with congressional approval.
Authorities recorded 1,800 more
cases since March 13 – many in the capital Madrid.
This will be the second state of
emergency in the country since the transition to democracy began in 1975, the
first being a 2010 air traffic controllers’ strike.
With 191 deaths and 6,046 infections, Spain is the worst-hit European
country after Italy.
Rome declared a nationwide lockdown on March 16. More than 1,440 people have
died in Italy.
Meanwhile, the US is extending its
European coronavirus travel ban to include the UK and Republic of Ireland. The
ban will begin at midnight EST on March 16, VP Mike Pence announced.
On March 13, the World Health
Organization (WHO) said Europe was now the “epicenter” of the pandemic.
The WHO Director General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, urged countries to use aggressive measures, community mobilization and social distancing to save lives.
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