Nation eases restrictions

France’s secondary and high schools have reopened and a ban on domestic travel has been lifted as part of the government’s plan to gradually reopen the country.

The French are now allowed to go further than the 10kilometer (6mile) from home limit that had been applied for four weeks in efforts to slow the spread of the virus. A curfew from 7 p.m. until 6 a.m. remains in place.

Last week, President Emmanuel Macron presented the key dates of the plan to move out of partial lockdown, as numbers of infections and hospitalizations have started decreasing.

Restaurants and cafes will be able to serve customers outdoors at tables seating a maximum of six people starting May 19, when the nightly curfew will be pushed back to 9 p.m.

Nonessential shops may also reopen, as well as cultural sites and sports facilities, which will have occupancy limits.

On June 9, tourists from abroad will be allowed to come to France on the condition they are vaccinated or can show a negative test.