[imagesource: Andrea Mantovani/The New York Times]

It has become increasingly apparent over the past few months that lockdowns all over the world, including our own, won’t just end.

Even in New Zealand, which boasts immense success in halting the spread of COVID-19, is phasing in a return to ‘normal’ life.

Here at home, a leaked document that circulated last night points to an alert system, with different levels of lockdown according to various risk factors – read more on that here.

Of course, once this is over, ‘normal’ will look a little different. A vaccine is still in the works, and could take well over a year to perfect, so we’ll need to adapt, and maintain certain hygiene and physical distancing measures to account for the possibility that the virus could return.

Some countries are starting to ease up on lockdown restrictions in an attempt to bolster their economies. The World Health Organisation has advised that this should be monitored over a period of two weeks before it is reassessed.

Sky News compiled a list of who is taking the next step.

Spain

Spain implemented Europe’s strictest lockdown but, is now allowing manufacturing, construction and other non-essential activity to resume.

Austria

Austria was one of the first to lift restrictions by allowing small retailers and gardening supply stores to reopen. In May they plan on opening all stores, and by the middle of the month, all restaurants provided the initial phase doesn’t cause cases of coronavirus to increase.

Switzerland

Switzerland is implementing a three-phase plan to reopen the economy by gradually reopening schools and businesses while monitoring the situation carefully. Bars, restaurants and other places where large groups can congregate will be closed until at least the middle of June.

Italy

Italy is one of the countries hit hard by the virus. They’re now cautiously easing up on lockdown measures starting with retailers that sell stationery and children’s clothes to assist with in-home education.

Finland

Finland intends on ending the blockade of an important southern region containing the capital, Helsinki.

Germany

Chancellor Angela Merkel has sanctioned the reopening of non-essential shops like bookstores, provided strict hygiene and physical distancing protocols are maintained.

Denmark

Denmark has allowed certain schools to reopen. Large gatherings are not permitted. Trades that require close physical contact with customers will remain closed.

Czech Republic

Some Czech citizens are now allowed to travel abroad for business, visit relatives or see doctors. Anyone who spends more than two weeks abroad will be quarantined upon their return.

Slovenia

Slovenians who own holiday homes will be allowed to leave their main homes and take up residency there. Sports that don’t involve close contact like yoga, cycling and tennis are now allowed.

Poland

Shops will reopen, but borders will remain closed.

China

Wuhan, the epicentre of the virus, will be resuming rail, flight and freight operations by the end of April. The lockdown was lifted on April 8.

India

Restrictions on manufacturing and farming in rural areas will be phased in along with the construction of roads, buildings and inter-state transport of goods.

New Zealand

Primary schools will reopen, but attendance will be voluntary. Some businesses will reopen including drive-thru and delivery services. Malls and retail stores will remain closed and large gatherings banned.

United States

Donald Trump plans to ease restrictions in areas with low rates of infection looks set to cause chaos. The ultimate decision to do so, however, will remain with the governor of each state.

Belgium

While many of the lockdown regulations are being extended for another two weeks, it has been recommended that shops reopen along with sports grounds and strict socialisation measures (gatherings of 10 people or less and only those 10 are allowed to see each other).

Retailers will operate under the same conditions as essential food stores.

Norway

Norway has started to lift restrictions little by little, opening their preschools before gradually moving on to higher grades. No large gatherings are permitted and residents have to work from home until at least June 15.

Iran

Restrictions on trips between provinces have been lifted and low-risk businesses have resumed operations.

We’ll hopefully find out later this evening, when President Ramaphosa addresses the nation, where South Africa stands with regard to lockdown restrictions going forward.

[source:skynews]