• Confinement: Austria, the Czech Republic and Denmark: the Europe that lifts confinement
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After four weeks of confinement by coronavirus, the Austrians have today started the path to what Chancellor Sebastian Kurz called "new normal". The awakening from hibernation will be long, smooth and progressive, but the streets of cities and towns in the Alpine Republic are already enjoying this slight opening.

The stores of less than 400 square meters, which represent 80% of the commercial activity, today resumed their activity and with them the large areas of electronics, DIY, washing tunnels and gardening. Weddings and burials are allowed again if they are celebrated in private, that is, within the family. Lifting this ban is a balm for many citizens.

"There will be as much freedom as possible and as many restrictions as necessary," said the foreign minister as a starting pistol for a strategy that the world will observe with a magnifying glass for being the first to be launched. And the disciplined Austrians do not want to disappoint.

From the first hours of this Tuesday, D-Day, all the shops with the mentioned surface and regardless of their activity, raised the blind. In Vienna alone there were more than 4,500. However, they must comply with a schedule of 7:40 a.m. at 7:00 p.m., carry out a daily disinfection and ensure that in the store there are no more than one customer for every 20 square meters. Sellers and buyers must wear masks , the use of which is, as of today, mandatory in all public spaces. Businesses that do not comply with the rules will be penalized with up to 3,600 euros .

The hunger for freedom was noticed throughout the country from early hours of the day. Little by little and always keeping their distance, long lines formed in front of the establishments. In the case of haberdashery, they went around the block. "I have had to wait an hour to buy sewing supplies, but I did it with pleasure. With nothing to entertain at home, time passes very slowly," Betina Wafrek told ORF television without removing her mask. Similar scenes in front of florists, clothing and electricity stores.

"I don't trust him at all"

In the DIY and garden warehouses, the entrances were equally dropper and tidy. In many of the distances to be kept had been marked on the ground and there were security personnel at the doors. "I do not mind waiting as long as it takes because I am delighted with the mere fact of being here. I needed seeds, compost and a couple of tools. But as soon as I buy what I need, I go home. I do not trust myself at all "said Patrick, a Berndorf retiree.

The Minister of Health, Rudolf Anschober, has made it clear: "The virus is still there" , so "I appeal with all energy to comply with the security measures of this partial opening in a consistent manner. We must keep the distances strictly of security inside and outside the establishments and to wear masks, included in the offices ". To guarantee its widespread use, vending machines have been installed in the busiest points, such as metro stations.

In the event that everything works as planned and the numbers of new infections are acceptable, the chancellor will take a new step and set a date for the reopening of sports and cultural life. The decision on whether schools should remain closed beyond mid-May will be made later this month. The same for restaurants and hotels.

"We are going to remain vigilant. If the data moves in the wrong direction, we will put on the emergency brake," Kurz warned.

Austria, with 14,135 confirmed coronavirus cases and 394 deaths, has been one of the first countries to break the curve . From a new infected rate of 3% it has gone to 0.8%, according to data from the Minister of Health. Despite the figures, there is still a long way to go to achieve normality. The Tyrol region remains in quarantine.

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