France resumed semi-normal life yesterday, with cafes and restaurants completely reopened, some cross-border trips re-opened, and preparations for the return of all children to schools, after the authorities considered that the “largest part of the epidemic” had been overlooked, while non-essential stores in Britain opened their doors , With the start of a new phase of insulation lifting in the UK.
For the first time, since last March, a train linking Paris and Dortmund, Germany, left its station, yesterday morning, around 06:00 GMT, as a result of the reopening of the borders within the European Union.
In another sign of returning to normality, in the center of Paris, many restaurants and cafes have equipped their halls to receive customers again.
Three weeks ago, the French authorities allowed the opening of external spaces only in Paris and its environs, and nurseries, schools and colleges must wait another week, to resume activity normally.
The compulsory return to schools will contribute to the resumption of the country's economic life, because many parents will be able to return to work more easily, and French Health Minister Olivier Ferrand expressed his optimism, saying that his country "has passed the greater part of the epidemic (Covid 19)", with He pointed out that "the virus is still circulating in the country", and that the fight against the new corona has not ended yet.
Nine deaths have been recorded in hospitals during the past 24 hours, the lowest toll since the death count began in mid-March. The epidemic claimed 29,407 people in France.
In Britain, it became permissible for all stores yesterday to resume their work with the start of a new phase of lifting isolation in the United Kingdom, which bears great importance to the country's economy, which was severely affected by the repercussions of the epidemic "Covid-19".
And 42,000 people infected with the new coronavirus died in Britain, an outcome that could exceed 50,000 if the deaths that were suspected to be caused by the virus were calculated.
Noting the decline in the number of deaths and cases requiring hospitalization, the British government began easing isolation restrictions, and since the beginning of June this has allowed partial opening of schools, as well as open-air markets and car sales companies.
As of yesterday, thousands of non-essential stores, such as those selling clothes, books and electronic equipment, were allowed to open their doors, as well as zoos, safari gardens, open-air cinemas, and places of worship but only to pray individually.
Gaskets became mandatory for public transportation, but not mandatory in stores. However, stores had to enforce measures to ensure the safety of employees and customers, such as cleaning their sites frequently and marking floors that urged people to keep a distance between them.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the media during a visit to a mall in East London, where he looked at the measures in place, that people could "shop with all the reassurance."
The opening of stores holds great importance for the UK economy, which has been severely affected by the repercussions of the pandemic. The country's GDP fell by 20.4% in April, the first month in which full isolation was applied.
Non-core retailers employ 1.3 million people in the country, and pump £ 46.6 billion every year into their economy.
And on the main commercial streets of central London, the shops put sterile packages for customers to use, and while recommendations for maintaining two meters between each person are still in place, the British government is studying the possibility of reducing this distance, in order to give payment to hotels and restaurants that are scheduled to open in early July.
The British Prime Minister invites his countrymen to shop with reassurance.
France records the lowest death toll since March ... The Minister of Health is "optimistic".