‘We must accept the risks in reopening’

ITALIAN Premier Giuseppe Conte has acknowledged reopening the economy brings a risk of new outbreaks of coronavirus, but said “we must accept it”.

He said the nationwide lockdown that began in early March had brought “the expected results”, putting the country in a position to expand economic activity in the second phase of reopening.

Shops, bars, cafes, restaurants, hairdressers and museums are among the business and cultural activities that can resume from today. Gyms and swimming pools can reopen a week after.

Travel between regions and into Italy from abroad will be permitted from June 3.

Mr Conte, right, said the country must accept the risks and open before the availability of a vaccine. But he said an extensive monitoring system is in place and the government will intervene to close areas if there are new outbreaks.

Meanwhile, Spain has registered its first daily death toll of fewer than 100 since declaring a state of emergency two months ago.

The health minister said regional authorities have reported 87 new deaths, the lowest daily count since March 16. Spain reported more than 900 deaths a day at the height of the outbreak.

The country of 47 million has had 27,650 fatalities in total and 277,719 infections from Covid-19.

The latest figures came as Prime

Minister Pedro Sanchez said he will ask Parliament for what he hopes will be the last extension of the state of emergency, keeping it in place until around late June.

Tourism, which accounts for 12% of GDP, looks set to lose its critical summer season.

“Spain needs

Sanchez said.

“But tourism needs security. It needs health guarantees.”

In Turkey, senior citizens have been allowed to leave their homes for a second time as the country continues to ease some coronavirus restrictions. People above 65 – the age group most at risk of developing serious Covid-19 symptoms – can be outside for six hours yesterday, but their lockdown on other days continues. When outside, they are urged to wear masks and practice social distancing.

The nation has instituted partial lockdowns with people above 65 and under 20, who are ordered to stay at home. The measures for senior

tourism,” Mr citizens came into force on March 21 and were relaxed for the first time last week.

Children and teenagers were also allowed out last week on different days for several hours. The latest statistics from the health ministry put confirmed infections at 148,067 and the death toll at 4,096.

Russia has relaxed border restrictions for athletes and coaches in a move that will help football to restart in the country next month.

Since March, Russia has barred most foreign arrivals in a bid to stem the spread of the coronavirus. Now the government says athletes and coaches will be allowed in if they have a contract with a Russian sports team or organisation. Anyone who returns will have to spend 14 days in isolation on arrival and will be observed by doctors.

The Russian Premier League aims to restart on June 21, although some of its foreign stars headed home during the outbreak and have yet to come back.