BRUSSELS/GENEVA, April 21-- More European nations have decided to tentatively relax restrictions with various requirements being introduced to the public. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Europe has registered 1,073,947 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 103,989 deaths as of 10:00 a.m. CET (0800 GMT) on April 21. RELAXING LOCKDOWN Despite the figures, more European countries have started or blueprinted their way back to normal life with cautious easing of some restrictions put into place to stem the spread of the coronavirus. Cyprus took its first steps on Tuesday to gradually relax coronavirus restrictions and restart the economy, with the government saying that it expects an economic recession. President Nicos Anastasiades presided over meetings of trade unions, employers' associations, hoteliers, contractors and big land developers to hear their views before announcing plans for the gradual relaxation of restrictions. Strict restrictions, including an uNPRecedented peace-time curfew, are in force until April 30. Also on Tuesday, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced that the government has relaxed measures against the coronavirus spread by partly reopening primary schools as of May 11. Meanwhile, Austria, one of the first European countries loosening lockdown, took further steps. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz announced that the exit restrictions imposed by his government will be relaxed and all shops may reopen from May 1. |