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Coronavirus hope as Germany opens non-essential shops while recording lowest death toll for two weeks
GERMANY reopened a number of non-essential shops today as the country saw the lowest coronavirus deaths for two weeks.
German health authorities recorded 110 deaths from Covid-19 overnight, the smallest daily total since the 92 deaths on April 6.
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It brings the total death toll to 4,404 - a quarter of the total in neighbouring France.
Germany's confirmed coronavirus cases rose by 1,775 to 141,672, the second consecutive daily fall and the lowest number of new infections since March 18.
For the first time in weeks, some regions in Germany have allowed shops to reopen today.
Stores smaller than 8,600 square feet (800 square metres) were allowed to welcome customers again as long as they adhere to the social distancing measures.
These shops include florists, garages and fashion stores.
Schools remain largely closed but classes about to graduate this summer will gradually resume and universities will be allowed to hold exams in a number of weeks.
All other lockdown measures including a ban on gatherings of more than two people and large-scale public events will remain in force.
Last week, Angela Merkel agreed to lower the restrictions of the lockdown with the leaders of Germany's 16 states.
Each state is set to lift the restrictions at their own pace.
Some states, such as Germany's capital Berlin, will take a little longer to reopen fully.
Jens Spahn, the German health minister, declared that the virus was "under control" but Merkel has warned that the relative success is still "fragile";.
After Merkel's announcement about easing lockdown measures last week, the country's coronavirus cases spiked three days in a row.
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases confirmed on April 17 that coronavirus cases increased by 3,380 to 133,830 - Germany's biggest rise in six days - according to its data.
Despite the rise in cases, Health Minister Jens Spahn says hospitals have "at no time been overwhelmed so far".
Spahn said the coronavirus outbreak has become "manageable again" as the number of patients beating the disease has been higher than the number of new infections every day this week.
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He told reporters that hospitals and surgeries have "at no time been overwhelmed so far".
Chancellor Angela Merkel said the virus reproduction or transmission rate in Germany was around one - meaning one person with the virus infects one other on average.
The country hopes to ramp up testing in the coming days - it has already tested around two million people - and aims to produce around 50million protective masks, including 10million of the higher efficiency FFP2 standard a week from August.
Though not yet obligatory, Merkel said her government "strongly advises" wearing a mask in public.
Elsewhere in Europe, governments have also begun to ease on lockdown restrictions.
Last week Austria and Italy allowed thousands of shops to reopen while in Spain non-essential workers returned to factories and building sites.
Italy, Europe's worst-hit country with more than 23,000 deaths, last week extended its nationwide lockdown until at least May 3.
But it is allowing a narrow range of small businesses to reopen including launderettes and shops selling books and children's clothes.
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said: "This is a difficult but necessary decision for which I take all political responsibility.”
In Austria, garden centres, DIY stores and small shops under 400 square metres will open today as part of a step-by-step plan to restart the economy.
Strict social distancing rules remain in place, with residents urged to stay at home as much as possible.
And the government has even made it compulsory for people to wear a face mask in supermarkets and pharmacies.
Chancellor Sebastian Kurz last week unveiled plans to lift restrictions gradually, saying he wanted to "come out of this crisis as quickly as possible and fight for every job in Austria".
Larger shops, shopping centres and hairdressers can reopen on May 1, while restaurants and hotels could follow in mid-May if the number of Covid-19 infections continues to fall.
Denmark is reopening schools for children aged 11 and under from tomorrow, but other restrictions remain until May 11.
PM Mette Frederiksen compared it to walking a tightrope, saying: "If we open Denmark too quickly, we risk infections rising too sharply and then we'll have to close down again."
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