HOW ELSEWHERE THE LOCKDOWN IS EASING

GERMANY

Shops (of up to 800 square metres) allowed to open next week, as well as car and bicycle dealers, and bookstores.

Schools (with priority for final-year students) to reopen gradually from May 4, as well as hairdressing salons.

Large public gatherings, including religious services, remain banned until end of August.

Bars, cafes, restaurants, cinemas and music venues to remain closed.

Strict social distancing and hygiene rules extended to May 3 and government ‘strongly recommends’ that people wear face masks on public transport and when shopping.

FRANCE

Lockdown extended until May 11.

Schools and nurseries to reopen then to get parents back to work.

Bars, restaurants and cinemas still closed. Large public gatherings banned until at least mid-July.

SPAIN

Some factory and construction employees back at work, but most shops and offices remain closed.

Lockdown likely to be extended beyond current date of April 27.

SWITZERLAND

Lockdown to be eased from April 27. Hairdressers, cosmetic salons and garden centres to reopen.

Children to return to school from May 11. At the same time, shops and markets can reopen.

Universities, museums, libraries and zoos to reopen from June 8.

Details on relaxing ban on public gatherings of more than five people to be announced at the end of May.

USA

Individual states have ordered restrictions, but on Friday President Trump seemed to encourage protests against lockdowns by tweeting ‘LIBERATE MINNESOTA!’ followed by ‘LIBERATE MICHIGAN!’ and ‘LIBERATE VIRGINIA’. All three states have Democrat governors.

The governor of Texas announced on Friday that the state would begin easing restrictions, including reopening state parks. Florida’s governor told local officials they could open beaches.

NORWAY

Children’s nurseries to reopen and some health specialists to return to work from tomorrow.

Partial reopening of high schools, universities and hair, massage and beauty salons from April 27.

ITALY

First to impose lockdown but it’s set to end on May 4.

Bookshops, laundries, stationers, children’s clothes stores already reopened in some regions on trial basis; forestry workers and IT manufacturers back at work.

In Lombardy – the nation’s coronavirus crisis epicentre – shops remain shut.

SWEDEN

Restaurants and schools still open.

No legal restrictions but recommendations that people avoid non-essential travel and continue to observe social distancing.

FINLAND

Ban on travel in and out of capital Helsinki has been lifted, but other restrictions to stay in place until further notice.

Schools and libraries closed until May 13.

Restaurants to remain shut until the end of May.

AUSTRIA

Garden centres, hardware/DIY stores and small shops allowed to reopen last week.

Masks compulsory and strict social distancing in all shops and on public transport.

If no surge in infections, all stores can open from May 1 – followed by schools and restaurants in mid-May.

DENMARK

Nurseries and primary schools reopened on Wednesday.

Older children will be able to return to school on May 10 at the earliest.

Restaurants and cafes closed, and gatherings of more than ten people remain banned until May 10.

Beauty salons, hairdressers and tattoo parlours reopen tomorrow. Courts to restart on April 27.

Gatherings of large numbers of people forbidden until August.

CZECH REPUBLIC

Small independent shops to reopen tomorrow, larger shops on May 11, beer gardens on May 25, and theatres, restaurants, shopping malls and gatherings of up to 50 people allowed from June 8.

Czechs may also travel abroad provided they undergo two-week quarantine after returning.

CHINA

Some citizens allowed back to work but tight controls remain amid fears of a second wave of virus.

Restaurants and shops restrict numbers, with some checking customers’ temperature before entry.

Visitors from badly affected countries must spend 14 days in quarantine on arrival.

SOUTH KOREA

More than 500,000 people have been tested, helping the country to avoid the kind of lockdowns imposed elsewhere.

National Assembly elections held on Wednesday had 66 per cent turnout, the highest in 18 years. Thousands in quarantine were allowed out to vote at specially designated polling stations between 5.20pm and 7pm.

Masks, gloves and strict social-distancing measures still in place.