Austria set to relax coronavirus lockdown measures

Austria will begin lifting its coronavirus restrictions on Tuesday but this is the first step in a long process, experts say.

Austria came to a standstill when it introduced lockdown measures on March 16. The country closed everything except supermarkets and medical facilities.

But last week Austria became the first European country to announce it would begin lifting its lockdown measures.

The country is set to loosen its restrictions piecemeal. From Tuesday, non-essential stores under 400 square meters (4,300 square feet) — about the size of one-and-a-half tennis courts — will be allowed to open their doors. So too will hardware stores and garden centers. On May 1 shops, shopping malls and hairdressers will follow suit.

However, restaurants and hotels will have to wait until mid-May to reopen at the earliest and no public events can be held until at least late June. Other public health measures, such as requiring people to wear face masks in supermarkets and pharmacies, will remain in place. The face mask rule has also been extended to other shops and public transport.

Read more via DW