EU Countries Start Easing Anti-Coronavirus Restrictions Gradually

By Staff, Agencies

Several European states started taking the first steps towards a gradual re-opening of their shuttered economies in hopes that the tide has now turned in the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

In Italy, which emerged as Europe's worst-hit country in terms of the death toll with its 21,067 fatalities, some of the bookstores and shops selling kids' clothes were opened on Tuesday.

In Spain, which recorded EU's highest number of cases -- 174,060 -- workers headed back to construction sites and factories Tuesday.

In Austria, shops selling homeware opened their doors to the customers, who were expected to don face-masks, in the Czech Republic, sports centers were once again accessible to the public, and in Denmark, elementary schools are to open on Wednesday.

The initial re-opening measures in Europe come as the US is pondering on when to start re-opening its own economy.