France to further ease lockdown

France will further unwind anti-coronavirus lockdown from June 2, lifting 100-km travel restriction and allowing non-essential businesses, parks and beaches to reopen, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe announced on Thursday.

The last three weeks of the first phase of deconfinement had "good results," Philippe told a press meeting. "During this phase 2, freedom will become the rule again and bans will be the exception."

The prime minister, however, warned that "the virus is still present at different speeds throughout the territory." He stressed that high vigilance was recommended in Paris and Ile-de-France region and two overseas departments of Mayotte and Guiana where the virus was circulating faster that other zones.

Starting from next week, the order which forced people to stay within 100 kilometers of their homes will be lifted, but the ban on gathering of more than 10 people is maintained. Night clubs and stadiums will remain closed.

Restaurants, cafes and bars in low risk areas will be able to receive customers, providing they respect health protocol and social distancing. In Great Paris region, classified as "orange" zone, they can only open outside spaces to avoid a resurgence of the epidemic.

All the cities will also be allowed to reopen parks and public gardens. In "orange" zones, people should wear a mask when in parks and public gardens. Colleges and high schools will be able to reopen.


Dhaka/Mukul