On Monday, millions of French citizens are expected to emerge cautiously from one of Europe’s most stringent and largest lockdowns, as shops and visit hair salons reopen, giving a peek at normal life once again.
France, whose official death toll is the fifth highest in the world at the time of writing, had imposed a lockdown of eight weeks, put in place to prevent the spread of coronavirus, with people only allowed out for critical shopping, work, and limited amounts of exercise.
Shops and hair salons will begin to reopen, with citizens being allowed to go out without a government-mandated form, except for journeys of more than 62 miles, which are permitted mainly for medical purposes, funerals, or the sick.
French President, Emmanuel Macron, decided to lift the lockdown after the number of patients in intensive care, dropped to less than half the peak of more than 7,000 seen in early April.
Another positive sign has been a sustained decrease in the number of reported coronavirus fatalities, which dropped to 70 on Sunday.
The Government has advised vigilance, with several regions remaining “red zones” such as the Paris area, while also being subject to additional restrictions. Although, citizens are still being urged to work from home in an attempt at preventing another surge in infections.
On Monday, kindergarten and primary schools will be allowed to open voluntarily, with pupils being allowed to return on Tuesday.
The Panthera Post 