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With coronavirus outbreaks at different stages around the world, countries are making changes to their restrictions.
In some places lockdowns are being eased, in others, like the UK, the restrictions are being kept in place. Elsewhere, they are being strengthened.
It comes as the World Health Organisation has said countries that ease restrictions should wait at least two weeks to evaluate the impact, before taking further action.
EASED
SPAIN
This week, Spain has eased the conditions of Europe's strictest lockdown, allowing manufacturing, construction and other non-essential activity. For further lockdown measures to be lifted, the prime minister said testing needs to be greatly increased.
AUSTRIA
Austria was one of the first European countries to lift restrictions, on Tuesday announcing it would allow small retailers and DIY and gardening supply stores to reopen, so long as customers wore face masks and stayed 1m from others. Authorities said all stores can reopen on 2 May, followed by restaurants in mid-May, provided the pandemic remains under control.
SWITZERLAND
Switzerland will ease restrictions under a three-stage plan, gradually opening businesses and schools which have been closed for a month. Companies which provide personal services, like hairdressers and physiotherapists, will be allowed to return to work from 27 April, with customer limits removed. Then, following a gap of two or three weeks for monitoring, schools could reopen on 11 May. Bars and restaurant will remain closed until at least 8 June.
ITALY
Restrictions on two categories of shops - stationers and children's clothes - were lifted on 14 April but all other lockdown measures will be kept in place.
FINLAND
The Finnish government said it would end a blockade of a key southern region that included the capital Helsinki, in the first easing of restrictions.
GERMANY
Chancellor Angela Merkel said non-essential shops, which have been closed for nearly four weeks, will be allowed to start reopening, with hygiene precautions, if they are up to 800 square metres in area. Some stores can reopen irrespective of their size. But a ban on public gatherings of more than two and a requirement to keep 1.5m from others, which has been in place since 23 March, will remain beyond Sunday. Officials will review the situation again on 30 April. Border controls will be extended.
DENMARK
Denmark has begun to relax its strict lockdown measures by allowing some classes to return nationwide to school. It only applies to certain year groups, while other students must continue to study from home. Gatherings of more than 10 people remain banned. Trades that have close physical contacts with customers remain closed. Restaurants and cafes can still only serve takeaway.
CZECH REPUBLIC
On Tuesday, the government relaxed some restrictions, allowing some Czech citizens to travel abroad for business trips, visit relatives or see doctors. Those who have spent more than two weeks abroad, including lorry drivers, still have to be quarantined.
SLOVENIA
Starting this weekend, thousands of Slovenians who own holiday homes will be allowed to leave their main homes in towns or cities to visit the properties in the countryside. Late on Wednesday, the government also allowed some sport activities that do not entail close contact, such as yoga, cycling or tennis.
POLAND
Lockdown measures on shops will be lifted from 19 April, but borders will remain closed until 3 May.
CHINA
The mayor of Wuhan, where the pandemic started, said on Wednesday the city aimed to fully resume rail, flight and freight operations by the end of this month after a more than two-month lockdown was lifted on 8 April.
INDIA
Restrictions will be eased on Monday to revive manufacturing and farming in rural areas, India's home ministry said on Wednesday. New measures will also permit the construction of roads and buildings in those rural areas. The inter-state transport of goods, essential and non-essential, will be allowed.
NEW ZEALAND
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said from next Wednesday primary schools would reopen but attendance would be voluntary. Some business can reopen, including drive-through and delivery restaurants. Malls and retail stores will remain closed and large gatherings banned.
UNITED STATES
Donald Trump is preparing new guidelines allowing some states to quickly relax social distancing measures. The new guidelines, expected to be announced on Thursday, are aimed at clearing the way for an easing of restrictions in areas with low transmission rates. The ultimate decisions will remain with governors.
BELGIUM
Many of the key lockdown rules are being extended for two weeks but the government said garden centres and do-it-yourself shops could open under the same conditions as essential food stores now. Officials said Belgium will start reopening the economy after 3 May if cases continue to taper off over the few next weeks.
IRAN
The Middle East's worst-hit country lifted a ban on travel within provinces on Sunday and said restrictions on trips between provinces end on 20 April. Businesses seen as lower risk were allowed to reopen last Saturday outside Tehran and will reopen from 18 April in the capital.
EXTENDED
UK
It is too early to lift the lockdown because the virus would "run rampant" if the government eased social distancing measures, Health Minister Matt Hancock said on Thursday.
FRANCE
France has renewed its lockdown until 11 May, despite signs the rate of infection is past its peak in Paris.
SINGAPORE
A partial lockdown is in place until 4 May with the wearing of masks mandatory for people outside of their homes. There are signs the virus is growing in migrant worker communities.
PORTUGAL
Portugal's infection cases curve has flattened but not enough for lockdown measures to be lifted and the economy to be reopened, government ministers have said.
HUNGARY
Lockdown measures are being extended by one week, Prime Minister Victor Orban's chief of staff announced on Thursday, with the situation being reviewed every Wednesday.
CANADA
Non-essential businesses will remain shut for several more weeks, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on 14 April, with the lockdown in the nation's most populous province Ontario extended for another 28 days.
AUSTRALIA
No definite end date to the lockdown has been announced, and Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Thursday that restrictions on movement will continue for at least four more weeks.
GREECE
Greek officials have cautioned against early talk of lifting the country's lockdown, stating that any measures will have to be very seriously weighed and the effects of restrictions being eased abroad studied.
VIETNAM
Officials have said they will extend the lockdown in 12 provinces, including the capital Hanoi and the southern metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City for a further seven days.
BRAZIL
Lockdowns are set to continue in the largest Brazilian cities and most states, with Sao Paulo extending social distancing measures until 22 April and Rio de Janeiro until 30 April.
ARGENTINA
Lockdown has been extended until 26 April, but the government is considering widening the list of essential services to allow some businesses to get back to work.
MEXICO
Authorities are widely expected to extend the shutdown of schools and non-essential businesses beyond 30 April, as they brace themselves for coronavirus infections to accelerate.
SAUDI ARABIA
A nationwide lockdown was extended indefinitely this week, along with the ongoing ban on pilgrimages to the holy city of Mecca.
ISRAEL
The country's "stay-at-home" order has been kept in place for all except those who work in vital industries, as officials said any exit strategy will be "slow and responsible".
SOUTH AFRICA
A complete lockdown has been extended until the end of April but the country said key sectors could be reopened gradually under "strictly controlled conditions".
NIGERIA
The lockdown in the states of Lagos, Abuja and Ogun has been extended until 27 April.
Most large African nations so far have no plans to ease restrictions.
STRENGTHENED
JAPAN
Although Japan's measures are still some way short of a full lockdown, the state of emergency introduced on 7 April, which was imposed for a month, gave authorities more power to force people to stay at home and businesses to close. It currently covers about 44% of Japan's population. Local media reported on Thursday that the country was preparing to expand the emergency nationwide.
RUSSIA
A new system of passes controlling the movement of people within Russia's capital has been introduced, resulting in long queues on main roads and into metro stations.
SUDAN
Prayers in mosques and churches across the capital of Khartoum have been suspended after, earlier this week, the government decided to lock down the capital for three weeks starting on Saturday, including a round-the-clock curfew.
https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-lockdowns-unlocked-which-countries-are-easing-restrictions-11974027
In some places lockdowns are being eased, in others, like the UK, the restrictions are being kept in place. Elsewhere, they are being strengthened.
It comes as the World Health Organisation has said countries that ease restrictions should wait at least two weeks to evaluate the impact, before taking further action.
EASED
SPAIN
This week, Spain has eased the conditions of Europe's strictest lockdown, allowing manufacturing, construction and other non-essential activity. For further lockdown measures to be lifted, the prime minister said testing needs to be greatly increased.
AUSTRIA
Austria was one of the first European countries to lift restrictions, on Tuesday announcing it would allow small retailers and DIY and gardening supply stores to reopen, so long as customers wore face masks and stayed 1m from others. Authorities said all stores can reopen on 2 May, followed by restaurants in mid-May, provided the pandemic remains under control.
SWITZERLAND
Switzerland will ease restrictions under a three-stage plan, gradually opening businesses and schools which have been closed for a month. Companies which provide personal services, like hairdressers and physiotherapists, will be allowed to return to work from 27 April, with customer limits removed. Then, following a gap of two or three weeks for monitoring, schools could reopen on 11 May. Bars and restaurant will remain closed until at least 8 June.
ITALY
Restrictions on two categories of shops - stationers and children's clothes - were lifted on 14 April but all other lockdown measures will be kept in place.
FINLAND
The Finnish government said it would end a blockade of a key southern region that included the capital Helsinki, in the first easing of restrictions.
GERMANY
Chancellor Angela Merkel said non-essential shops, which have been closed for nearly four weeks, will be allowed to start reopening, with hygiene precautions, if they are up to 800 square metres in area. Some stores can reopen irrespective of their size. But a ban on public gatherings of more than two and a requirement to keep 1.5m from others, which has been in place since 23 March, will remain beyond Sunday. Officials will review the situation again on 30 April. Border controls will be extended.
DENMARK
Denmark has begun to relax its strict lockdown measures by allowing some classes to return nationwide to school. It only applies to certain year groups, while other students must continue to study from home. Gatherings of more than 10 people remain banned. Trades that have close physical contacts with customers remain closed. Restaurants and cafes can still only serve takeaway.
CZECH REPUBLIC
On Tuesday, the government relaxed some restrictions, allowing some Czech citizens to travel abroad for business trips, visit relatives or see doctors. Those who have spent more than two weeks abroad, including lorry drivers, still have to be quarantined.
SLOVENIA
Starting this weekend, thousands of Slovenians who own holiday homes will be allowed to leave their main homes in towns or cities to visit the properties in the countryside. Late on Wednesday, the government also allowed some sport activities that do not entail close contact, such as yoga, cycling or tennis.
POLAND
Lockdown measures on shops will be lifted from 19 April, but borders will remain closed until 3 May.
CHINA
The mayor of Wuhan, where the pandemic started, said on Wednesday the city aimed to fully resume rail, flight and freight operations by the end of this month after a more than two-month lockdown was lifted on 8 April.
INDIA
Restrictions will be eased on Monday to revive manufacturing and farming in rural areas, India's home ministry said on Wednesday. New measures will also permit the construction of roads and buildings in those rural areas. The inter-state transport of goods, essential and non-essential, will be allowed.
NEW ZEALAND
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said from next Wednesday primary schools would reopen but attendance would be voluntary. Some business can reopen, including drive-through and delivery restaurants. Malls and retail stores will remain closed and large gatherings banned.
UNITED STATES
Donald Trump is preparing new guidelines allowing some states to quickly relax social distancing measures. The new guidelines, expected to be announced on Thursday, are aimed at clearing the way for an easing of restrictions in areas with low transmission rates. The ultimate decisions will remain with governors.
BELGIUM
Many of the key lockdown rules are being extended for two weeks but the government said garden centres and do-it-yourself shops could open under the same conditions as essential food stores now. Officials said Belgium will start reopening the economy after 3 May if cases continue to taper off over the few next weeks.
IRAN
The Middle East's worst-hit country lifted a ban on travel within provinces on Sunday and said restrictions on trips between provinces end on 20 April. Businesses seen as lower risk were allowed to reopen last Saturday outside Tehran and will reopen from 18 April in the capital.
EXTENDED
UK
It is too early to lift the lockdown because the virus would "run rampant" if the government eased social distancing measures, Health Minister Matt Hancock said on Thursday.
FRANCE
France has renewed its lockdown until 11 May, despite signs the rate of infection is past its peak in Paris.
SINGAPORE
A partial lockdown is in place until 4 May with the wearing of masks mandatory for people outside of their homes. There are signs the virus is growing in migrant worker communities.
PORTUGAL
Portugal's infection cases curve has flattened but not enough for lockdown measures to be lifted and the economy to be reopened, government ministers have said.
HUNGARY
Lockdown measures are being extended by one week, Prime Minister Victor Orban's chief of staff announced on Thursday, with the situation being reviewed every Wednesday.
CANADA
Non-essential businesses will remain shut for several more weeks, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on 14 April, with the lockdown in the nation's most populous province Ontario extended for another 28 days.
AUSTRALIA
No definite end date to the lockdown has been announced, and Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Thursday that restrictions on movement will continue for at least four more weeks.
GREECE
Greek officials have cautioned against early talk of lifting the country's lockdown, stating that any measures will have to be very seriously weighed and the effects of restrictions being eased abroad studied.
VIETNAM
Officials have said they will extend the lockdown in 12 provinces, including the capital Hanoi and the southern metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City for a further seven days.
BRAZIL
Lockdowns are set to continue in the largest Brazilian cities and most states, with Sao Paulo extending social distancing measures until 22 April and Rio de Janeiro until 30 April.
ARGENTINA
Lockdown has been extended until 26 April, but the government is considering widening the list of essential services to allow some businesses to get back to work.
MEXICO
Authorities are widely expected to extend the shutdown of schools and non-essential businesses beyond 30 April, as they brace themselves for coronavirus infections to accelerate.
SAUDI ARABIA
A nationwide lockdown was extended indefinitely this week, along with the ongoing ban on pilgrimages to the holy city of Mecca.
ISRAEL
The country's "stay-at-home" order has been kept in place for all except those who work in vital industries, as officials said any exit strategy will be "slow and responsible".
SOUTH AFRICA
A complete lockdown has been extended until the end of April but the country said key sectors could be reopened gradually under "strictly controlled conditions".
NIGERIA
The lockdown in the states of Lagos, Abuja and Ogun has been extended until 27 April.
Most large African nations so far have no plans to ease restrictions.
STRENGTHENED
JAPAN
Although Japan's measures are still some way short of a full lockdown, the state of emergency introduced on 7 April, which was imposed for a month, gave authorities more power to force people to stay at home and businesses to close. It currently covers about 44% of Japan's population. Local media reported on Thursday that the country was preparing to expand the emergency nationwide.
RUSSIA
A new system of passes controlling the movement of people within Russia's capital has been introduced, resulting in long queues on main roads and into metro stations.
SUDAN
Prayers in mosques and churches across the capital of Khartoum have been suspended after, earlier this week, the government decided to lock down the capital for three weeks starting on Saturday, including a round-the-clock curfew.
https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-lockdowns-unlocked-which-countries-are-easing-restrictions-11974027
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Spain eased is misleading, it is still 100x stricter than here...no exercise, no walks...just to the shops and back, police and army checkpoints all over the costa del sol, go more than 1 mile or so to another supermarket from your house and massive fine
The article clearly states that Spain has the strictest lockdown measures in Europe, thus readers will be able to apply the appropriate level of context to the measures being eased. 
Science officer said the other day that the rate of community infections in UK was between 0.5 and 1, but we're not fully utilising the lockdown freedoms. A lot of businesses have voluntarily closed, Mcdonald's, greggs, a lot of manufacturers, construction etc. Who knows if the infection rate would be sustainable if the current lockdown freedoms were being fully utilised.
The rise in Spanish infections is hard to understand because almost all of those diagnosed within the past 24 hours will surely have contracted the virus before any easing of the lockdown - remember they will have been tested a few days ago and the results have just come through.
I am wondering if the method of reporting has changed - they may be including deaths not previously counted.
I am wondering if the method of reporting has changed - they may be including deaths not previously counted.
Who knows, but it is the highest daily number since 4 April.
Will need to see figures for another week or so before any firm trends can be declared.
Will need to see figures for another week or so before any firm trends can be declared.
Im sure I read earlier today something that said recoveries had exceeded new infections for the first time in Spain so im not sure these figures are right.
Forget that. Ive found that report and it does state an increase in over 6000. Still bizarre that its being reported as good news though.
The figures I have quoted are from the https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/ site..
Worldometers uses the official Spanish government site as its source. https://covid19.isciii.es/
In other news ……...
SPAIN has finally seen its daily death toll from coronavirus drop below 400 with 367 deaths registered on Friday morning.
It’s a drop from the 440 recorded yesterday and brings the total death toll to 22,524.
It comes after the country repeatedly saw slight increases in the death toll over the past few days, remaining well above 400.
The drop is welcome news on what is now the country’s 40th day of a nationwide lockdown.
Meanwhile, the number of new cases in the past 24 hours has also plummeted to 2,796, down from yesterday’s 4,653.
The number of recovered coronavirus patients grew by 3,105 between Thursday and Friday, taking over the number of new infections for the first time, reported Diario Sur.
The increase in confirmed cases does not include people who have tested positive for antibodies, meaning they had coronavirus but showed no symptoms.
If they are included, the rise in caseload is 6,740 as of today.
https://www.theolivepress.es/spain-news/2020/04/24/breaking-spainnn-sees-significant-drop-in-coronavirus-death-toll/
Thus it appears that a backdated adjustment has been made to the number of new cases.
Worldometers uses the official Spanish government site as its source. https://covid19.isciii.es/
In other news ……...
SPAIN has finally seen its daily death toll from coronavirus drop below 400 with 367 deaths registered on Friday morning.
It’s a drop from the 440 recorded yesterday and brings the total death toll to 22,524.
It comes after the country repeatedly saw slight increases in the death toll over the past few days, remaining well above 400.
The drop is welcome news on what is now the country’s 40th day of a nationwide lockdown.
Meanwhile, the number of new cases in the past 24 hours has also plummeted to 2,796, down from yesterday’s 4,653.
The number of recovered coronavirus patients grew by 3,105 between Thursday and Friday, taking over the number of new infections for the first time, reported Diario Sur.
The increase in confirmed cases does not include people who have tested positive for antibodies, meaning they had coronavirus but showed no symptoms.
If they are included, the rise in caseload is 6,740 as of today.
https://www.theolivepress.es/spain-news/2020/04/24/breaking-spainnn-sees-significant-drop-in-coronavirus-death-toll/
Thus it appears that a backdated adjustment has been made to the number of new cases.
Possibly a good idea to report such tests as a separate category.
looking in todays media seems uk are starting to vote with their feet ,ok weather t weekend can see trouble breaking out sat/sun as some people seemed to have decided they've had enough,few shops opening diy,takeaways ,ice creams on the beech will be sending wrong message, government needs to get a grip down its a lockdown or it isnt
wait until a heatwave hits; which will more than likely be prevalent in the SE (it usually is)
racing,football etc,decisions were made outside of government,people voting with their feet suits doris and co,they ,ll just have to go along with it and if we get a 2nd peak ,they,ll blame the public,its the doris,cummings,tory usual dna of how they operate
Cheeky fecker, lovely up here today, my first strawberries are nearly ready for turning pink.
8looking like spiking again.12 cases sweden 131 deaths
Good to see those that are allowed to go back to work are starting to do so. More people are about for sure this week and for the
first time ive seen the youngsters gathering in groups of up to a dozen.
first time ive seen the youngsters gathering in groups of up to a dozen.
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