Europe’s Comeback Tracker: You Can Now Get A Tattoo In Denmark And Buy Books In Italy As Countries Gradually Reopen

Topline: With new coronavirus cases falling, Europe has started returning to normality with some surprising new additions to ‘essential services’ including barbers, tattoo artists and bookshops. 

Italy

• From April 14, shops selling books, stationery shops, children’s clothing, as well as dry cleaners and launderette have been deemed essential businesses and allowed to open alongside businesses such as pharmacies, pet shops, supermarkets. 
• Manufacturing deemed essential and therefore allowed to reopen includes computer manufacturing, forestry, machine parts, and agricultural products.
• Lockdown has been extended until May 3. 
• Europe’s worst hit country has seen nearly 170,000 cases and more than 22,000 deaths.

Spain

• Lockdown activated on March 14 are being eased gradually, but non-essential businesses remain closed until at least X, when lockdown is due to start.
• Construction and manufacturing industries are returning to work.
• Students could return to school in September, a committee of local health experts has advised the health ministry, but the final decision will be down to the government.

France

• President Emmanuel Macron this week announced a tentative end to the lockdown of May 11, after which some restrictions can be eased.
• But this depends on a sustained drop in new cases, and residents respecting the lockdown rules, he said.
• Large public gatherings banned until mid-July.

Germany

• Chancellor Angela Merkel announced on Wednesday that lockdown restrictions would last until May 3.
• Schools and hairdressers will slowly start to reopen on May 4.
• But from next week, shops smaller than 8,600 sq feet can open, as can bookshops, car dealerships and bike shops.
• Large public gatherings are banned until August 31.

United Kingdom

• The U.K. government announced a three week lockdown extension on Thursday, meaning restrictions will not lift until early May at the earliest.
• All non-essential businesses remain shut, while schools are only open for vulnerable children or children of essential workers.
• But some restaurants are open for takeout only, while others shut when lockdown was enforced in late March. But three major chains—KFC, Pret A Manger and Burger King, have reopened their businesses for takeout only.

Austria

• All shops could reopen on May 2. Currently supermarkets and small shops, DIY stores, gardening centres and public parks have been opened this week.
• Hairdressers and salons will also be allowed to reopen in early May.
• Restaurants will only be allowed to reopen from later next month.
• Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has labelled his country’s approach as “as much freedom as possible, as many restrictions as necessary.”

Denmark

• Schools have been allowed to reopen for children up to the age of 11 on Wednesday.
• Hairdressers, tattooists, salons and spas, psychologists, physiotherapists, chiropractors, dentists and driving instructors are also allowed to reopen shop from this week.

Sweden

• Sweden has taken perhaps one of the most lax approaches to shutting down daily life—shops, schools and pubs have been allowed to remain open.
• There doesn’t appear to be a total lockdown on the cards, but lawmakers have new powers to order businesses to shut down if needed.
• Gatherings involving more than 50 people are banned.

Belgium

• Lockdown will be in place until at least May 3.
• DIY stores can open and gardening centres, alongside grocery stores.

Poland

• Shops will open from April 19, while lockdown will last until at least May 3.

Key background: Italy was the first country in the world to activate a nationwide lockdown on March 9, after its northern regions saw a rapid rise in new cases. France, Spain, the U.K. were among countries to follow suit. But each country has attempted to slow the spread of coronavirus in different ways, which has highlighted some underlying tensions between the European Union as a body, and member nations such as Italy which has criticised the EU of not helping early enough. On Thursday, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen offered a “heartfelt apology” to Italy, on behalf of Europe.

Further reading: Here Are The Countries Starting To Ease Lockdowns Amid The Coronavirus Pandemic (Forbes)

EU Adopts Europe-Wide Strategy For Ending Lockdowns (Forbes)

Italy And Spain Ease Lockdown Restrictions As The U.S. Watches For Repercussions (Forbes)

Even If U.S. Lockdown Was Lifted Today, Most Americans Wouldn’t Resume Life As Normal, New Poll Finds (Forbes)

Full coverage and live updates on the Coronavirus