Switzerland announced today the easing, as of April 27, of the restrictions imposed to contain the spread of the coronavirus, joining 14 other European countries that have announced plans for the gradual reactivation of economic activity.
Although Europe remains the region of the world most affected by the new coronavirus, with more than one million cases and 90,000 deaths, data from several countries appear to indicate that the contagion curve has peaked and is beginning to fall.
At the same time, the unprecedented paralysis of the economy has already started to take effect and, on Wednesday, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), translated into numbers the already predicted deep crisis that the “great ‘lockdown’” will cause: a recession of the world economy of 3% in 2020 and, in Europe, a contraction of 7.5% in the euro area and an aggregate unemployment rate of 10.4%.
The European Commission on Wednesday put forward guidelines for easing restrictions, calling for coordinated action and asking for respect for three criteria: data confirming a significant and stable reduction in spread, the responsiveness of health systems and the capacity to monitor, namely through large-scale tests, the spread of the virus.
But the issue is in the hands of national governments, which have exclusive competence in matters of health policy.
Below is a list of the 15 European countries, 13 of which are members of the European Union (EU), which announced a easing of the restrictions imposed to curb the spread of the virus, in all cases subject to the consolidation of the downward trend of contagions and respect by rules such as distancing, disinfecting sites or wearing a mask.
SWITZERLAND
Switzerland today announced a three-phase plan for the gradual reopening of businesses and schools, which ended a month ago.
From April 27, hairdressers, physiotherapists and psychologists can reopen doors.
The doctors’ offices, hitherto limited to urgent situations, may return to work and, at funerals, direct family members will be able to be present.
On May 11, primary schools reopen, and on June 8, vocational and secondary schools and universities, as well as museums, libraries and zoos.
Also on June 8, in principle, the remaining stores, bars and restaurants will be allowed to reopen.
Major public events, such as concerts or football games, do not yet have a start date.
Switzerland, with about 6.8 million inhabitants, has 26,500 cases of infection and more than 1,000 deaths associated with covid-19, according to official figures today.
AUSTRIA
Austria reopened small commercial establishments with less than 400 m2 on Tuesday as the first step in a roadmap to reactivate economic activity announced last week by Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz.
Larger commercial establishments will be allowed to open on May 1st, but restaurants, hotels or hairdressers will only be allowed from mid-May, with special care.
Final university and secondary school exams will be held, but schools will remain closed until mid-May and universities will keep distance classes until the end of the school year.
Major public events will remain banned at least until the end of June and there is no date set for the reopening of cinemas and theaters, swimming pools, sports venues and gyms, which have closed since the confinement was decreed on 16 March.
With 8.85 million inhabitants, Austria has recorded more than 14,000 cases of infection with the new coronavirus and 393 deaths, according to official figures on Wednesday.
ITALY
Italy on Tuesday authorized the reopening of bookshops, stationery stores and baby clothes and the resumption of forest sappers activities.
The reopening of that type of store does not extend to the entire Italian territory, with some regional authorities maintaining the operating ban.
Lombardy and Piedmont (north), regions most affected by the pandemic, keep stores closed, Lazio (center), which includes the capital, Rome, postponed the reopening until next week and Veneto (northeast) only authorized the opening two days per week.
Despite a reduction in contagions and deaths over the past few days, the Italian Government maintains confinement measures, saying it hopes that, as of May 3, the country will be able to enter “phase 2”.
The Italian plan for a “gradual and controlled” lifting of restrictions, scheduled for mid-May, provides for a strengthening of “local health networks” to screen cases identified for treatment and test population samples to determine “how many Italians have been infected, if they are immune and how, how many and in what areas they can return to a normal life ”.
Italy also plans to impose the use of a generalized mask, dictate a “scrupulous social distance” and affect certain hospitals for exclusive treatment of covid-19, which will remain open in the event of a second wave of infections, so that other hospitals can return to dedicate yourself to other patients.
Italy, with 60.36 million inhabitants, is the hardest hit country in Europe, with 165,155 cases and 21,645 deaths, according to official figures on Wednesday.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday announced the reopening, on May 4, of primary and secondary schools and commercial establishments with an area of up to 800 square meters.
Libraries, archives and museums reopen on April 20, but cultural and sporting events remain banned until at least August 31.
Restaurants, bars and ‘pubs’ remain closed and religious celebrations in prohibited churches, synagogues or mosques.
With about 83 million inhabitants, Germany is the fifth European country most affected by the pandemic, with 130,450 cases and 3,569 deaths, according to official figures today.
POLAND
Polish Health Minister Lukasz Szumowski announced on Tuesday the easing of some restrictions on containment measures in place since March 13, but gave details for the end of the week.
According to government spokesman Piotr Mueller, the measures are expected to go into effect on Monday, April 20, and involve allowing more customers inside establishments and churches and lifting some restrictions on outdoor activities. free, namely with the reopening of public parks and forest areas.
Schools will remain closed.
Poland, with 38 million inhabitants, registered that day 7,050 cases of infection and 251 deaths.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday announced the extension to May 11 of the confinement in force, a date from which some of the measures enacted on March 17 will begin to be lifted.
As of May 11, the majority of the population is no longer in confinement, but those over 65 and chronically ill will remain obliged to remain at home until the date to be announced.
For this risk group, the government plans to distribute masks for mandatory use in essential trips.
Schools will be gradually reopened as of May 11, according to a plan to be announced at the end of April, but which already predicts that universities will not reopen until the summer.
Bars and restaurants will remain closed and cultural and sporting events prohibited.
France, which has a population of 67 million, is the third European country most affected by the pandemic, with 106,206 cases of infection and 17,167 deaths, according to official figures today.
BELGIUM
Belgium extended on Wednesday until May 3 the measures of social confinement and detachment, which started on March 18, but with some changes.
Belgian Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès announced that they can reopen DIY and garden stores, under the same conditions as grocery stores and food stores.
From now on, there can also be “visits to nursing homes”, limited to a family member, and always the same, as long as there are no symptoms of infection with the new coronavirus.
Schools will remain closed until further evaluation, and the holding of major events remains prohibited until August 31.
Belgium, which has 11.4 million inhabitants, registered 33,573 cases of infection and 4,440 deaths on Wednesday.
LUXEMBOURG
The Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Xavier Bettel, announced on Wednesday the first phase of the “exit strategy” of the confinement.
From April 20, construction, recycling and gardening can resume activity and hardware and gardening stores can reopen.
On May 11, date subject to further confirmation, universities and secondary schools will reopen and, on May 25, crèches and primary schools.
Shops, bars and restaurants remain closed, with no date yet to reopen, and cultural and sporting events remain banned, at least until July 31.
The prime minister assured that the country has a reserve of 6 to 7 million masks, which will be distributed to the population.
Luxembourg, with around 614 thousand inhabitants, today registered 3,373 cases of infection and 69 deaths.
SPAIN
Spain, the second country in Europe with the most deaths, authorized a partial return to the workplace as of Tuesday, focusing on sectors such as construction and industry.
Ten million masks have been distributed by the authorities to be made available to passengers at metro and train stations and at bus stops.
In confinement since March 14, extended at least until April 25, Spain has banned all non-essential economic activities on March 30.
The phase of lifting the confinement is expected to begin “never before” in two weeks and will be “very progressive”, said Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Sunday.
The plan still in preparation, announced in early April, involves isolating infected people and launching a study to determine the percentage of the infected population and how many people are immunized.
Spain, with about 46.9 million inhabitants, has 182,816 cases of infection and 19,130 deaths, according to official figures today.
FINLAND
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin announced on Wednesday the lifting of the sanitary fence imposed on March 28 on the capital, Helsinki, the main focus of the virus in the country, maintaining restrictions on the rest of the territory.
Schools, high schools and universities will remain closed and the gatherings of more than 10 people prohibited.
Finland, with 5.5 million inhabitants, registered 3,161 cases of infection and 64 deaths on Wednesday.
DENMARK
Denmark started on Wednesday the gradual reopening of schools, starting with nurseries and primary schools, which will be followed on 10 May by the next levels of education.
The final exams of the secondary will not be carried out, depending on the classifications of students on continuous assessment.
Restaurants, cafes, bars, hairdressers, massage parlors, shopping centers and nightclubs remain closed and gatherings of more than 10 people are prohibited.
Churches, libraries and sports venues will remain closed until at least 10 May.
Denmark, with a population of 5.8 million, has 6,876 cases and 309 deaths.
NORWAY
Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg announced a progressive easing of restrictions from April 20, after Health Minister Bent Hoie announced that the epidemic is “under control” in the country.
From April 20, daycare centers reopen and the ban on travel to holiday homes or weekends is lifted.
Also from April 20, the offices of activities such as physiotherapy or psychology may reopen.
In a second stage, beginning on April 27, school establishments, including universities, will partially function again, as well as hairdressers and massage clinics and dermatological treatments.
The ban on cultural and sporting events, the closing of borders, quarantine and self-isolation measures, teleworking whenever possible, and the closure of restaurants, cafes and bars remain in force.
With a population of around 5.4 million, Norway has 6,566 cases and 127 deaths, according to Wednesday’s World Health Organization (WHO) figures.
LITHUANIA
Lithuania announced on Wednesday the reopening, as of today, of commercial establishments that have a direct exit to the street, giving priority to repair shops, laundries and shoemakers, with limited number of customers in the countryside and provided that each customer is not in store more than 20 minutes.
Shopping centers, gyms and sports clubs, restaurants and bars remain closed, as defined when general confinement was decreed in the country, on March 16.
Schools and universities are not expected to reopen before September.
Lithuania, with 2.8 million inhabitants, has 1,091 cases of infection and 29 deaths, according to official figures on Wednesday.
CZECH REPUBLIC
Czech Deputy Prime Minister Karel Havlicek announced on April 7 the lifting of the mandatory use of a mask for people who practice cycling, running or other outdoor sports activities no longer have the obligation to wear a mask, imposed on March to all people circulating in the public space.
Since April 9, gardening, tools, building materials and bicycle shops are allowed to reopen.
Borders remain closed, but the ban on traveling abroad was partially lifted on Tuesday, April 14, and business trips were allowed for health reasons or visits to family members, provided that travelers comply 14 days of quarantine after returning to the country.
Concentrations of more than 10 people are still prohibited.
The Czech Republic, with 10.65 million inhabitants, registered on Wednesday 6,141 cases of infection, 161 of which were fatal, according to WHO figures.
SLOVENIA
Large Slovenian companies, closed since mid-March, were allowed to resume activity on Tuesday.
From that day on, they were also able to reopen car workshops, construction sites and hardware and appliance stores.
The Slovenian Government announced “soon” the lifting of restrictions on movement and assembly.
With 2 million inhabitants, Slovenia registered 1,212 cases of infection and 55 deaths on Tuesday.
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