As the global caseload of the COVID-19 disease increased more slowly, governments around the world are increasingly taking steps to revive their shuttered economies after weeks of pandemic lockdowns.
More than 206,544 people have lost their lives due to the respiratory disease caused by the new virus — well over half of them in Europe — and 2,971,477 others are currently infected with the virus across the globe, according to the latest data collected by Johns Hopkins University.
Meanwhile, the contagion curve appears to have flattened in Europe, as the continent’s worst-hit nations — Italy, Spain, France, and Britain — eventually report drops in their daily tallies.
That has allowed the governments to prepare for a staged end to weeks off coronavirus lockdowns.
Spanish children get outside after 6 weeks
Spanish children were finally free to go outside on Sunday, after six weeks of living under one of Europe’s strictest lockdowns.
Under the new lockdown conditions, children under 14 are allowed to step outside of their house for one hour of supervised activity per day.
Schools still remain closed.
Spain’s Health Ministry reported the lowest daily increase in the coronavirus fatality toll in more than a month on Sunday. It registered 288 deaths, which brought the total number of fatalities to 23,190, while the overall number of cases rose to 226, 629.
The county has recorded the world’s third-highest number of deaths, after the United States and Italy.
Italy to reopen factories
Italy will also allow manufacturers, construction companies, and some wholesalers to reopen from next week, and will permit limited family visits after more than two months of a strict lockdown.
Under the revised rules, retailers will be allowed to reopen two weeks later.
Restaurants, however, will remain closed until the beginning of June.
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, who outlined the road map to restart activities, said on Sunday, “We will live with the virus and we will have to adopt every precaution possible.”
Health authorities reported a third consecutive daily fall in COVID-19 deaths, with 260 fatalities — the lowest number since mid-March.
With 26,644 fatalities, Italy’s death toll still remains the heaviest in Europe, along with 197, 675 confirmed cases of the viral infection.
The number of new cases has been slowing and the number of patients in intensive care has been falling steadily, according to officials.