Coronavirus: Italy begins cautious deconfinement

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While on Sunday, 174 deaths linked to Covid-19 were recorded in 24 hours in the boot, the least heavy toll since the start of the confinement decreed on March 9, from this Monday the Italians recover some freedoms. And are entering a new phase in the fight against the coronavirus epidemic.

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With our special correspondent in Milan, Pauline Gleize

Behind the ajar door of his taxi, Tiziano quickly puts his mask back on as soon as someone speaks to him. He does not dare to hope too much for improvement with the start of deconfinement: "  The work will not resume," he believes. Now I work for nothing. I've been here for 3 hours, I haven't done a race yet. On days when things are going well, we do 2-3 races in 10 hours of work. It's almost humiliating.  "

Mandatory mask in public places

In Italy, it was a gradual deconfinement that began on Monday. Manufacturing and construction companies can revive their activity. Restaurants and bars that could only deliver will now be able to sell take-out as well. Retail businesses only reopen on May 18. Bar and restaurant customers will only be able to consume on site in early June. But as of this Monday, the parks reopen their doors, respecting the distancing measures.

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Besides, in closed public places like public transport, wearing a mask becomes compulsory. That said, in Milan, most of the people I met on Sunday in very uncrowded streets had already adopted this gesture. Today, individual sports activities are also allowed, even at a distance from the home. It is also again possible to celebrate funerals at no more than 15 and to visit a loved one if necessary.

Fuzzy rules

But some rules remain unclear. On family visits for example. This can be done for family ties up to the sixth degree, and for stable affective relationships, remains to be defined ... Another factor of confusion, the regional particularities: Calabria and Veneto want the reopening of bars and restaurants and engage in a showdown with the government.

Work resumed on May 4 in Italian manufacturing companies, like here at the NTN-ICSA factory in San Benigno Canavese. REUTERS / Massimo Pinca

In any case, the Italians do not expect a rapid economic recovery. And more than relief, it is often a note of concern that points first to the mention of this relief. Some fear a new outbreak of contagion.

"  I'm a little scared  "

Tiziano wants more customers for his taxi, but is not yet ready to take advantage of this little boost of freedom: “  It's been two months since I saw my son who lives with his mother. But I still don't have enough confidence to go there  , ”he admits.

Marco Quispe will not go to see his loved ones either right away, maybe next week depending on the events. This healthcare professional is afraid of contaminating them. This beginning of deconfinement is not a relief: "  I am a little afraid," he says. They said that more than 4 million people were returning to work. If that's the case, I'll walk to work.  "

Sitting on a bench, Mariaromana Monti and Maurizio Modiano are divided: “  We are a little worried because we do not know exactly how many people will go out. But, we are also very happy that it is finally starting  », they recognize. Even if Maurizio admits being "  worried because the decree is not clear at all  ". Regarding the issue of family visits, for example.

On the other side of the square, a woman rushes into a taxi. Tiziano finally wins a race.

In neighboring Slovenia and Hungary, the terraces of cafes and restaurants reopened on Monday, with the exception of Budapest. In Poland, hotels, shopping centers, libraries and some museums will also reopen. In Germany, schools are to reopen gradually in some Länder from this Monday. And the German Minister of the Interior, who is also Minister of Sports, says he is in favor of a resumption of the football championship.

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• Italy
• Coronavirus
• Confinement
• Health and Medicine

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