HOW COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD ARE UNLOCKING
LOCKDOWN LIFTED
March 25: Restrictions and travel curbs are lifted in the country’s worst-hit Hubei province, except in Wuhan -ground zero of the pandemic
April 8: Wuhan, the city of 11 million people that accounts for around 84% of China’s Covid-19 death toll, is de-sealed after over
70 days of strict lockdown
PARTIAL RELAXATIONS
Several states are rolling back confinement n measures even as many don’t have adequate measures in place
States that have begun easing restrictions: n
Georgia, Texas, Florida, Ohio, Alaska, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Mississippi, Colorado and South Carolina
New York, the worst-hit state in the US, has n planned to resume some manufacturing and construction activity in low-risk parts from May 15
GRADIENT UNLOCKDOWN PLAN
May 4: Italians will be able to exercise outdoors and visit relatives, but only if they respect social distancing and wear masks. Restaurants can offer takeout and wholesale stores can resume business May 18: Remaining shops can reopen, along with museums and libraries
June 1: Restaurants and hairdressers can reopen while schools could remain closed till September
FOUR-PHASE PLAN
May 4: Partial relaxations such as hairdressers, restaurant take-away services will be permitted May 11: Most provinces to permit small businesses to reopen; bars and restaurants, shops and other service providers can open conditionally May end: Theatres & cinemas can reopen
June end: Shops can open at half capacity. People will be allowed to go to beaches
May 11: Public transport to restart, but face masks will be compulsory, and working from home for private offices strongly encouraged by the government
Schools will reopen gradually n
BUT restaurants, cafes and cinemas will remain n closed for the time being and large public gatherings prohibited
From the United States to Asia, countries across the globe are easing restrictions months after Sars-Cov-2, the pathogen that causes Covid-19, began its rampage from China. As countries hit their peak of infections, they are cautiously trying to find the balance between precaution and restarting their economies even though the contagion is far from over
April 27: Masks became obligatory on public transport and in most shops in Germany April 30: Playgrounds, churches and cultural institutions such as museums and zoos allowed to open their doors. No relaxation in rules for restaurants, hotels, kindergartens, and large gatherings to remain suspended till at least August 31
CURBS TO CONTINUE
No easing of curbs: Despite other European countries moving towards lifting restrictions, British PM Boris Johnson said it was too early to follow suit and the UK can’t risk a second wave Vast majority of Russia has been on lockdown since late March, with only essential services operating. The government is working on a plan to lift curbs in a staggered manner after May 11 but that depends on how the outbreak unfolds