From flattening one curve to getting ahead of another: three of the world\u2019s hardest-hit nations are now preparing to ease the restrictions out in place to halt the spread of Covid-19.<\/p>\n
After the US, the countries with the next-highest numbers of confirmed cases – Spain, Italy and France – have announced plans for cautious and gradual exits from their lockdowns.<\/p>\n
Here’s a rundown of each country’s plans as they take their first steps back towards a semblance of normality.<\/p>\n
Spain<\/strong><\/p>\n The Spanish government has enforced one of Europe\u2019s strictest lockdowns. Since restrictions began on 14 March, the country\u2019s citizens have been forbidden from leaving their house unless it is to visit supermarkets, pharmacies or medical facilities or to walk the dog.<\/p>\n But following a\u00a0sustained decrease in the rate of new infections, those restrictions are starting to be eased.<\/p>\n Spanish children under 14 years of age have been confined indoors for the past six weeks, but as of Sunday 26 April they\u00a0are now allowed outside for an hour each day, although parks and playgrounds remain closed.<\/p>\n From next weekend,\u00a0adults will also be allowed out to exercise\u00a0or to go for a walk.<\/p>\n And in a televised address to the nation last week, Prime Minister Pedro S\u00e1nchez announced that the gradual lifting of other restrictions would begin in the second half of May, assuming the rates of infection continue to decline – but \u201cde-escalation would be slow\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n Spain\u2019s schools are\u00a0not expected to reopen until September.<\/p>\n Italy<\/strong><\/p>\n Early on in the crisis, Italy emerged as a major global coronavirus hotspot. The government\u2019s response was to put the country into a strict lockdown, which began on 9 March; Italy was the first European nation to do so.<\/p>\n Since late March, however, Italy\u2019s\u00a0numbers of new infections have declined steadily,\u00a0and the\u00a0country\u00a0is now beginning to re-emerge into the spring sunshine.<\/p>\n On Sunday 26 April, following talks with regional and business leaders, Prime Minister Guiseppe Conte promised to start lifting restrictions from 4 May.<\/p>\n On that date, parks will be reopened, people will be permitted to exercise outdoors once again and to visit relatives – as long as they observe social distancing and wear face masks.<\/p>\n The country\u2019s factories and building sites\u00a0will also be allowed to reopen\u00a0on 4 May, albeit with strict social distancing protocols in place. Restaurants will be permitted to serve takeaways at the same time, and – along with shops, hairdressers and museums – will\u00a0reopen fully on 1 June.<\/p>\n Italy\u2019s schools look set to remain closed until after the summer holidays, however.<\/p>\n France<\/strong><\/p>\n On Tuesday 28 April, the French Prime Minister, Edouard Philippe, will announce the government’s plans to ease the country out of its lockdown.<\/p>\n It seems timely;\u00a0according to a recent poll, support for the lockdown among French citizens is now below 50%.<\/p>\n Restrictions will begin to be lifted from 11 May,\u00a0according to reports. In a speech he will deliver to the National Assembly – the French parliament’s lower house – Philippe is expected to\u00a0outline a timetable for 17 priority areas, including the reopening of workplaces, increased testing, and bringing the country’s public transport systems back up to speed.<\/p>\n The government\u00a0has also suggested\u00a0that restrictions on travel within France could also be lifted at the same time.<\/p>\n In an\u00a0earlier televised address to the nation, meanwhile, President Emmanuel Macron announced that France’s schools and cr\u00e8ches would begin to reopen gradually from 11 May, although parents would not be compelled to send their children back into the classroom.<\/p>\n Arnaud Bernaert, Head of Health and Healthcare, World Economic Forum, said: “For those European countries where governments have started to ease restrictions, a controlled transition can be achieved with a number of measures.<\/p>\n First, there should be clear evidence that Covid-19 has transitioned to a controlled phase. Sufficient health and medical capacity needs to be in place in case of rebound and health resources for treating non-Covid patients must be taken into consideration.<\/p>\n “Higher-risk settings such as senior living facilities and high-population concentration areas require continued observation to minimise outbreaks. Many countries have scaled up their testing numbers, and have started contact tracing \u2013 this can also help limit further imported cases.<\/p>\n Finally, social distancing measures and remote working policies with engaged communities and employers will ensure the transition is co-ordinated in manageable stages.”<\/p>\n
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