6 Weeks On, Spain Lets Children Step Out

Hard-hit European countries relax restrictions as cases plateau; total COVID-19 toll crosses 2,00,000

Spanish children were allowed outside on Sunday for the first time in six weeks as countries eased lockdown measures and reopened economies gutted by the COVID-19 pandemic that has infected nearly three million people worldwide.

Governments from France to Italy and the United States are gearing up for a partial easing of severe restrictions that have kept more than half of humanity indoors for weeks on end.

Coronavirus cases around the world rose to 2.9 million and deaths have doubled since April 10 — hitting nearly 2,03,000 people on Sunday — with well over half of them in Europe, according to an AFP tally.

The daily toll in Western countries appeared to be levelling off and even falling, but fears abound in many places of a second surge after restrictions on movement are lifted.

New rules