This handout picture, taken on April 25, 2020, shows French artist Saype posing on his giant landart painting entitled "Beyond Crisis" in the alpine resort of Leysin, in western Switzerland. (Photo by AFP)
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 continents 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 Europes 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.
Spains 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 worlds 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, Italys 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.
Britain reports 413 more deaths
Britains daily tally was also the lowest since the end of March, as officials reported 413 deaths in 24 hours, with 4,463 new confirmed cases.
That brought the total death toll across the United Kingdom to 20,732, along with 152,840 confirmed cases.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce plans for easing lockdown restrictions as early as this week.
He is due to be back at work on Monday after spending a week in hospital due to a coronavirus infection and two weeks of recovering at Chequers, his country residence.
France reports lowest deaths in over a month
France on Sunday reported the smallest rise in deaths since March 25, with a decrease in the number of patients in intensive care.
Deaths rose by 242 to 22,856, according to figures provided by the French Health Ministry on Sunday.
The number of new cases also increased by 1,129 to 191,743.
Some businesses allowed to reopen in Switzerland
Switzerland also allowed some businesses to reopen on Monday. The country has reported a total number of 29,061 cases of COVID-19 and 1,610 deaths.
Germany detects 1,018 new cases
Germany has confirmed 1,018 new cases, bringing its total to 155,193, according to data from the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases on Monday.
The death toll also rose by 110 to 5,750, the data showed.
Meanwhile, millions of Muslims across the world have begun the holy month of Ramadan under coronavirus restrictions, which ban them from large gatherings for prayers in mosques.
Saudi Arabia relaxes some curfews
Saudi Arabia has kept 24-hour lockdowns in place in the city of Mecca, but eased some curfews elsewhere on Sunday.
Outside Mecca and certain lockdown areas, curfews will be eased for eight hours during the day.
The kingdom has also allowed some economic and commercial activities to re-start from Wednesday until May 13.
With 17,522 cases of infection and 139 deaths, Saudi Arabia has the highest numbers among the six members of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The countries, namely Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman, have collectively recorded almost 46,000 cases and 258 deaths.
Dubai lifts lockdowns on two commercial districts
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) lifted full lockdowns on two densely-populated commercial districts in Dubai on Sunday.
Dubai, the Middle Easts business hub, already cut its 24-hour lockdown back to an eight-hour curfew on Friday.
The UAE has reported more than 10,300 cases and 76 deaths resulting from COVID-19, the second-highest count among the six-member Arab alliance.
Turkeys death toll passes 2,800
Turkey eased a four-day curfew in 31 provinces and lifted quarantines in 177 settlements in 44 cities midnight on Sunday.
The Turkish Interior Ministry, however, said in a statement that regulations to curb the spread of the disease, such as compulsory wearing of masks and social-distancing in markets and streets would be strictly monitored over the next week.
Turkeys confirmed cases increased by 2,357 in the past 24 hours, Health Ministry data showed on Sunday, taking the countrys tally to 110,130 - the highest total for any country outside Western Europe or the United States.
The number of deaths also increased to 2,805 after 99 people succumbed to the respiratory disease in the last 24 hours.
A total of 29,140 people in Turkey have so far recovered from COVID-19, authorities said.
China reports 3 new cases, no deaths
China, the first ever country to report the disease, has detected three new cases, down from 11 a day earlier, with no new deaths, the countrys health authority said on Monday.
Of the new cases, two were imported, down from five on the previous day, according to the National Health Committee.
The country has a total of 82,830 cases and 4,633 deaths.
SOURCE: PRESS TV
LINK: https://www.ansarpress.com/english/16466
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