Full list: 16 countries move to ease lockdown measures

Slowly but surely, numerous countries are following the lead of the central Chinese ground zero of the COVID-19 pandemic, Wuhan, by starting to gradually end their lockdown restrictions.

Here is an overview:

– India – 

Although India’s national lockdown has been extended until May 3, on Monday workers in key sectors were allowed to go back to work.

They include those in agriculture, some manufacturing and construction industries, which employ millions of poorer Indians.

– Germany –

Germany on Monday allowed some smaller shops to reopen, while some schoolchildren will go back to school from May 4, starting with the eldest.

Members of the joint Coronavirus crisis unit of the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Ministry of the Interior, set up to contain the new COVID-19 Coronavirus attend a meeting at the Ministry of the Interior in Berlin on March 3, 2020. (Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP)

A ban on gatherings of more than two people remains in place and sports stadiums and concert halls will remain shut at least until August 31.

– Italy –

In Italy, which became the first European country to impose confinement rules on March 10, some businesses, including bookshops and laundrettes, were allowed to reopen on April 14 in some regions.

– Spain –

In Spain building and factory workers were allowed to go back to work on April 14.

– Czech Republic –

The Czech government on Monday started out on a five-stage plan to ease its lockdown measures.

First in line to start reopening are open-air markets and crafts and trades with workshops, schools and universities.

– Kinshasa, DRC –

The area of Gombe in Kinshasa, which houses the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s main institutions, banks and foreign embassies, will start opening Tuesday its supermarkets, groceries and banks.

– Austria –

Austria on April 14, allowed small shops not selling food to reopen.

– Israel –

Israel on Sunday allowed a reopening of high street shops, schools for children with special educational needs and a resumption of small-scale prayer meetings.

– Ghana –

Ghana on Monday ended a three-week lockdown on two key regions around the capital Accra and second region Kumasi.

– Denmark –

Denmark, which has not imposed a total confinement, on Monday reopened some small businesses after five weeks of closure, including hair salons, massage and tattoo parlours, dentists and driving schools.

On April 15 it had reopened nurseries, kindergartens and primary schools.