Italy: The First Day After the Easing of Quarantine Restrictions

The Italian Government has introduced the first relaxation of its nationwide quarantine since 4 May. However, citizens will have to wait until 18 May to see retail stores and museums open, and beauty salons, hairdressers, bars and restaurants will only open on 1 June.

Italy was among the worst affected countries by the pandemic, with more than 28,000 deaths from nearly 210,000 infections.

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide has surpassed 3.4 million, while more than 239,000 people have died from the disease, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Monday.

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Merchants rally on St Mark's Square, as Italy begins a staged end to a nationwide lockdown due to the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Venice, Italy, 4 May 2020.

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A woman rides a rental bicycle across Parco Sempione Park on 4 May 2020 in Milan as Italy starts to ease its COVID-19 lockdown. Stir-crazy Italians will be free to stroll and visit relatives for the first time in nine weeks on 4 May 2020 as Europe's hardest-hit country incrementally softens the world's longest nationwide coronavirus lockdown.

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People exercise on the street, as Italy begins a staged end to a nationwide lockdown due to the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Naples, Italy 4 May 2020.

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People wearing protective masks walk on a street, as Italy begins a staged end to a nationwide lockdown due to the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Rome, Italy 4 May 2020.

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A woman stands in a subway wagon at a stop, in Milan, Italy, Monday, 4 May 2020. Italy began stirring again Monday after a two-month coronavirus shutdown, with 4.4 million Italians able to return to work and restrictions on movement eased in the first European country to lock down in a bid to stem COVID-19 infections.

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People shop at the food market of Porta Palazzo in Turin on 4 May 2020, as Italy starts to ease its COVID-19 lockdown. Stir-crazy Italians will be free to stroll and visit relatives for the first time in nine weeks on 4 May 2020 as Europe's hardest-hit country incrementally softens the world's longest nationwide coronavirus lockdown.

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People wearing face masks arrive at the Cadorna railway station, as Italy begins a staged end to a nationwide lockdown due to the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Milan, Italy 4 May 2020.

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A child plays with a kite at the Sempione Park, after parks reopen as Italy begins a staged end to a nationwide lockdown due to a spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Milan, Italy, 4 May 2020.

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A safety guard checks passengers with a thermo scanner as they arrive at the Cadorna railway station, in Milan, Italy, Monday, 4 May 2020. Italy began stirring again Monday after a two-month coronavirus shutdown, with 4.4 million Italians able to return to work and restrictions on movement eased in what had been the first European country to lock down in a bid to stem COVID-19 infections.

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People are seen at the seaside, as Italy begins a staged end to a nationwide lockdown which was put in place due to the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Naples, 4 May 2020.