Italians were today looking forward to a gradual easing of their coronavirus lockdown after the unveiling of a detailed exit strategy by prime minister Giuseppe Conte.
Visits to the park will be permitted from next week, along with trips to see relatives in small numbers, while restaurants will be allowed to serve takeaway meals.
Factories and building sites will also reopen and funerals will be able to go ahead with a maximum of 15 mourners.
At the same time, individual athletes will be allowed to train and people will be able to do some sporting activity away from their homes.
Further relaxation of the lockdown rules will take place later, with retailers not already open allowed to do so on May 18, along with museums and libraries, and restaurants and bars fully reopen from June 1.
Announcing the exit blueprint, Mr Conte said that social distancing should continue and warned of the risks of lurching backwards if citizens failed to comply.
“If we do not respect the precautions… the deaths will increase,” he said. “If you love Italy, keep your distance.”
Mr Conte also said his government would also cap the price of face masks at 50 cents. His country has seen more than 26,000 coronavirus deaths but yesterday registered only 260, the lowest daily total since March 14.
The Italian changes came as other European nations pressed ahead with their own plans for emerging from the coronavirus shutdown.
In Norway, primary schools, hair salons and dermatologists, reopened today following the Oslo government’s claim that it has the virus under control.
Spain, Austria, France and the Czech Republic have begun easing restrictions or set out plans to do so, although in Germany face coverings today became compulsory for on public transport. Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, is expected to present a lockdown “de-escalation” plan tomorrow.
