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Light at the end of the lockdown tunnel for some coronavirus-hit countries

A nearly empty section of Paseo de la Castellana, one of Madrid's main avenues in downtown Madrid, Spain. Picture by AP Photo/Manu Fernandez
A nearly empty section of Paseo de la Castellana, one of Madrid's main avenues in downtown Madrid, Spain. Picture by AP Photo/Manu Fernandez A nearly empty section of Paseo de la Castellana, one of Madrid's main avenues in downtown Madrid, Spain. Picture by AP Photo/Manu Fernandez

FOR several coronavirus-hit countries, there is some light at the end of the tunnel.

While a further three-week lockdown is in place in Northern Ireland, elsewhere there has been an easing of lockdown restrictions amid the continuing Covid-19 crisis.

In Austria, thousands of shops are allowed to reopen, including garden centres and DIY stores, but with strict rules on social distancing in place.

Most shops including malls and hairdressers are allowed to open their doors from May 1, but restaurants and hotels will remain closed and cloth face masks will be mandatory for everyone outdoors.

In Denmark, schools re-opened this week for younger children, while farmers' markets are operating again in Bulgaria. In the Czech Republic, shops that sell building materials and bikes have opened their doors again and there has been a relaxation of rules for open air recreation areas.

Some workers are being allowed to return to their jobs in Spain, one of the countries worst affected by the pandemic.

Despite a daily death toll that remains over 500, more than 300,000 people who work in construction and manufacturing will be allowed to return, but schools and restaurants will remain shut.

However, they must still adhere to strict safety guidelines.

The majority of shops still remain shut, except for supermarkets, butchers, pharmacies and newsagents with the rules expected to remain in place into May.

In Italy, a limited number of businesses are allowed to re-open, including some bookshops and children’s clothing stores, but with strict rules on customer numbers and hygiene.

The hardest hit region of Lombardy is maintaining its measures for longer, but is pushing to relaunch manufacturing on May 4 - the day the national lockdown is set to be lifted.

Germany is aiming to begin a phased return to normal life after its coronavirus lockdown from April 19.

A list of steps, including mandatory mask-wearing in public, limits on gatherings and rapid tracing of infection chains, has been announced by Chancellor Angela Merkel in a bid to ease restrictions in the country.

In France, lockdown measures could be extended until May 11. President Emmanuel Macron extended the country's lockdown as he said current restrictions had slowed the virus but not beaten it.

American President Donald Trump said the United States was past the worst of the coronavirus pandemic and he will announce guidelines for reopening the country.

Governors of around 20 US states with fewer coronavirus cases believe they may be ready to start the process of reopening their economies by Mr Trump's May 1 target date.

New Zealand's strict four-week lockdown may be eased from next Wednesday, with the possibility that primary schools will reopen and some business set to open again including drive-through restaurants and deliveries. A final decision is to be made on Monday.

While the easing of restrictions is a positive sign, a series of staggered interventions over a period of weeks, months, if not longer, is likely to be expected worldwide.