国际英语资讯:Spotlight: France, Spain join ranks of European nations easing virus lockdown amid second-wa_时事

国际英语资讯:Spotlight: France, Spain join ranks of European nations easing virus lockdown amid second-wa

"We know that when we gradually lift the confinement, there will be the R0 rise. What we want is to maintain the rate below one, so that the epidemic declines," the minister said.

"De-confinement is not a return to the life as before," he stressed, adding that a lockdown may be reimposed if the virus spreads rapidly.

To Pascal Crepey, a French epidemiologist, the risk of the virus resurgence remains high and depends on the success of the first phase of the de-confinement.

"The risk of an epidemic resurgence exists as long as there is no vaccine neither treatment," Crepey told Xinhua. "All measures that aim to slow the epidemic spread are good, including barrier gestures, mask. If they are respected, surely, they will help to make the virus situation under control."

FURTHER STEPS ACROSS EUROPE

In other parts of Europe, Monday saw governments take further steps to return to normalcy.

Belgium entered phase 1B of the de-confinement, with businesses throughout the country allowed to reopen under strict conditions.

The reopening came one day after the expansion of social contacts, which allows people to receive up to four guests, family members or close friends in each home visit.

Cyprus made another big step back to normality by calling final year students back to classes to have a normal school year conclusion. Last week, Cyprus kick-started its economy by allowing 25,000 retail shops and the construction sector to resume operation.