BRUSSELS, May 12 (NNN-XINHUA) – France and Spain, on Monday, cautiously joined the ranks of European nations loosening COVID-19 restrictions, while the fear of a second-wave outbreak is hanging over.
The easing came a little shy of two months after the two governments imposed nationwide lock-down, to curb the virus pandemic, which so far claimed 26,643 lives in France and 26,744 in Spain.
The relaxation also came as the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced that the global virus caseload passed the 4-million mark.“
People in France can now move more freely. More important for them, meetings with family and friends are allowed, if the gathering draws no more than 10 people.
Business can resume, factories can kickstart long-stalled assembly lines, and pupils can return to schools.
In the French capital, one million stickers on the ground, in train and metro stations and seats, marked social distancing. Commuters had to wear masks and need to fill in a document to use public transport in rush hours. Any offender risks a fine of 135 euros (145.95 U.S. dollars).
Under the new rules, citizens can only travel up to 100 km, unless for professional and urgent reasons, while restaurants, cafes and cinemas are still banned from receiving customers.
France’s first-day post-lock-down “is going as it should,” said Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, minister of state for transport, expressing “satisfaction to see that the wearing of the mask is well respected.”
In Spain, 51 percent of the population were allowed to progress to Phase One, on Monday, while regions of Madrid, Catalonia, among others, remained at Phase Zero after failing to meet certain criteria.
The regions that have moved into Phase One will see a gradual reopening of commerce, with bars, shops, libraries, and museums allowed to open, under reduced capacity and strict hygiene rules.
Meetings of up to 10 people are allowed. Members of the same family can travel in the same car or sit next to each other on public transport, although they have to respect social distancing, and everyone taking public transport has to wear a face mask.
The Phase One will last at least two weeks before some regions are allowed to progress to Phase Two, which will see further easing of restrictions.
Both governments have opted for a gradual approach to lifting the confinement measures, aiming to perk up their ravaged economies without prompting a second wave of outbreaks.
In a Twitter message to citizens, French President, Emmanuel Macron said, “Thanks to you, the virus has slowed. But it is still there. Save lives, stay cautious.”– NNN-XINHUA