Deserted Champs Elysee is now filled with cars as France exits lockdown, while Spain also eases its restrictions and records lowest number of deaths since March 18
- France and Spain became the latest European countries to ease lockdown measures starting on Monday
- Both countries moved to a two-tier system with measures eased in places where the virus is spreading less
- The Champs Elysee was congested with traffic for the first time in weeks as people began to go back to work
- Meanwhile people sipped coffee on cafe terraces in Mallorca after they were allowed to reopen for business
Millions of people took to the roads and rails around France on Monday as the country became the latest European nation to start easing its coronavirus lockdown.
Traffic returned to the Champs Elysee in Paris as non-essential businesses including hairdressers were reopened and people were encouraged to return to work - provided they do not stray more than 60 miles from home.
It did not take long for crowds to build up on the city's train and underground platforms, making social distancing all-but impossible and underlining the difficulties every country now faces in trying to find a 'new normal' while living alongside the virus.
The Champs Elysee running through the centre of Paris was crowded with cars on Monday (left) after millions of people were allowed out of their homes as France begins to relax its coronavirus lockdown (pictured right, the street last week)
Despite restrictions on who can travel on public transport, rush-hour crowds were spotted on Paris's metro on Monday morning, amid fears that infection rates will begin to rise again
Spain also began easing lockdown for around half of its 47million people today, with cafes, restaurants and hotels allowed to open with reduced capacity after more than 12 weeks of enforced closures.
It comes as the country reported just 123 new deaths from the virus - its lowest total since March 18.
Meanwhile Spain's case total jumped by 3,046, though officials said this only consisted of 373 'new' cases with the rest were made up of a backlog of data that suddenly flushed into the system.
Belgium, Greece and Norway also started lifting restrictions on Monday, while Germany and Denmark moved ahead with plans to lift even more measures despite fears of a second wave of infections in Europe.
Here is how European countries are attempting to find their way to a 'new normal'...
FRANCE
France activated 'phase two' of its virus response on Monday, moving to a two-tier system where lockdown measures are relaxed in regions where infection rates are low and tightened in hotspots.
With the exception of 32 'red' departments - all concentrated in the north east of the country - the government allowed people to travel outside of their homes without a permit for the first time since March 15.
Provided people do not stray more than 60 miles from their front door there are no restrictions on movement, though those using public transport during rush hour must have a letter from their boss explaining why they need to be there. Those needing to travel more than 60 miles must have a 'compelling reason' for doing so.
All those travelling on French trains were required to wear masks from today or face a fine equivalent to £120. Pictured: Saint-Lazare train station in Paris
French hairdresser Marc Mauny tends to his first customer during the re-opening of Marc Creations hair salon at midnight in Mayenne, France
Golfers wear facemasks as they stand on a driving range during a practice session at The 'Bluegreen' Golf Course in Saint Aubin, south-west of Paris
People will also be allowed to visit friends in their homes provided gatherings do not exceed a maximum of 10 people and social distancing is maintained.
Meanwhile non-essential shops including hairdressers, florists, booksellers and clothing stores were also allowed to reopen and start admitting customers - provided safety precautions are taken.
Face masks will be compulsory for those on public transport and some workers including those working with children. Schools will begin to reopen from Tuesday, following an induction day for teachers on Monday.
France had reported 139,063 cases of coronavirus by Sunday afternoon - an increase of 209 on the previous day - in addition to 26,380 deaths, an increase of 70 in 24 hours.
SPAIN
Spain also activated a two-tier system on Monday, allowing around half the population to begin relaxing lockdown measures in area that are less at risk from the virus.
New rules brought into effect including gyms and museums allowed to open with reduced capacity, while restaurants and cafes can reopen their outdoor seating areas.
People will be allowed to socialise in groups of up to 10 and will be allowed outside without a permit, though will not be allowed to travel outside their home regions.
An employee of a handicraft shop waits for customers in Seville after retail businesses were allowed to reopen with social distancing enforced in Spain
Hotels are also being allowed to reopen, but with no international flights and limited travel around the country, many are facing grim business prospects.
'Unfortunately this year's business is lost already, it's going to be catastrophic,' said Seville's Dona Maria Hotel owner Manuel Dominguez.
However - the capital Madrid, economic powerhouse of Barcelona, and major cities of Grenada, Malaga and Valencia all did not make the cut and will have to remain in full lockdown until the situation eases.
Underlining the confusion now reigning over much of Europe as some measures are eased while others remain in place, passengers were filmed arguing with staff aboard an Iberia Express flight on Sunday.
People were allegedly furious at cabin staff for not maintaining proper social distancing, though the airline said that it had obeyed all government guidance.
GERMANY
Germany has relaxed more coronavirus lockdown measures despite the country's rate of infection rising to potentially dangerous levels.
While the measures vary from state to state, from today most Germans will be allowed to mix with people outside their homes provided it is not in large groups while more students will also be allowed back to school.
In the most-populous state of North-Rhine Westphalia, gyms were allowed to open overnight Sunday and will remain open each night for people to exercise.
A German woman works out in a gym in Cologne after the state of North-Rhine Westphalia - the largest in the country - allowed fitness centres to reopen at night to try to reduce crowding
As well as gyms, those living in North-Rhine Westphalia will also be allowed to go to bars, cafes, restaurants and pubs - provided they are seated and maintain proper social distance
Germany is relaxing measures state-by-state, but the majority of the country will now be allowed to visit people outside their homes and visit large shopping centres from today (pictured, a gym that has reopened in Cologne)
Pubs, cafes and restaurants will be allowed to open both their indoor and outdoor seating areas provided social distancing measures are enforced.
Large shops, including shopping centres, will also be allowed to reopen with social distancing.
The moves come despite the country's 'R' figure - or rate of infection - rising for the second day in a row to 1.13, the Robert Koch Institute said. Anything over 1 means the number of new daily infections will increase.
Researchers said their calculations may be adjusted over the coming days, but that the figure must be watched very carefully. Chancellor Merkel has previously said that new measures will be reimposed if the rate rises too far.
The increase was revealed as outbreaks of coronavirus were uncovered at three slaughterhouses across the country.
Writing on the ground remind students to keep distance as they arrive at a reopen primary school in Cologne, which has reopened as measures have eased
Germany is fearful of a second spike of coronavirus cases and has identified three outbreaks at meat processing plants after it started mass-testing workers (pictured)
Tests on meat workers at the three plants uncovered at least 336 cases of the virus with hundreds more results still due, DW reported.
Union representatives said most meat workers in Germany are migrants who are housed together in cheap accommodation, making social distancing impossible.
Some 205 cases were found at a single plant in Coesfeld, North-Rhine Westphalia, prompting officials to delay easing lockdown restrictions in that area.
BELGIUM
Belgium is taking a major step in relaxing its coronavirus lockdown by opening shops under strict conditions.
Even still, public transportation in the capital city of Brussels was hit by a strike because bus drivers did not feel safe under the current virus precautions.
Shoppers browse stores on the main shopping street in Brussels, Belgium, after the country allowed non-essential businesses to reopen as it eases its lockdown
A woman wears a protective face mask in a store as Belgium eases lockdown restrictions amid its coronavirus outbreak
Authorities on Sunday permitted people to start meeting with four close relatives or friends, allowing many families to celebrate a restricted Mother's Day.
The country has the highest per-capita coronavirus death rate of any country in the world, meaning it has suffered an unusually large number of fatalities for its population size - 8,707 deaths in a population of 11.5million.
However, officials say this is because the way their death figure is calculated - including suspected cases and deaths outside hospitals - makes comparisons with other nations unfair.
GREECE
Police in Greece have intervened to ease crowding conditions outside offices of the country's main power utility which reopened Monday.
Hundreds gathered outside the offices to pay their bills, worried that power would be cut off to their homes.
The state-controlled Public Power Corporation is urging customers to use online payment methods or newly-expanded call center services, but many elderly customers still pay their bills directly in cash.
People are seen at a store at Ermou Street, in Athens, after the country began relaxing its coronavirus lockdown
Many businesses in Greece were allowed to reopen today as the country eases its lockdown, including this women's clothing store in Athens
The utility is currently undergoing a major reorganization after being threatened with financial collapse last year, largely due to bills left unpaid during the 2010-2018 financial crisis.
PPC offices closed on March 23 as part of broader lockdown measures, but allowed to reopen as Greece eased restrictions on shops and other retail businesses.
Schools were also allowed to reopen on Monday, with pupils spaced apart and many pictured wearing facemasks during lessons.
DENMARK
As Denmark continues its reopening of society, shopping malls were allowed to open their doors on Monday.
At the same time, nearly 200 children from the fourth and fifth grade of a Copenhagen school gathered in the fan section of a soccer stadium that belongs to one Denmark's top football clubs to sing the national anthem.
The event to take the children out from the classes was organized by FC Copenhagen.
A sign informing customers on measurements to prevent from being infected stands in a shop in Field's Shopping Center in Copenhagen, Denmark, as lockdown measures are eased further
Museums, zoological gardens and amusement parks have been ordered to remain shut.
However, Copenhagen's famed downtown Tivoli Gardens, the amusement park that inspired Walt Disney to create his theme parks, has been able to open its doors to children from the capital's kindergartens and preschools.
Gatherings of more than ten people are still banned.
NORWAY
Having already allowed private gatherings of up to 20 people and reopened shops and workplaces, Norway atook its children back to school on Monday.
Classes had already restarted for those aged between 6 and 10 in April, but from Monday all classes will now be allowed once more.
The move is seen as key to restarting the economy since parents cannot travel to work if their children are at home.
CZECH REPUBLIC
The Czech Republic is taking a step to normality amid the coronavirus pandemic by easing more restrictions adopted by the government to contain it.
Shopping centres, hairdressers and beauty parlours are allowed to return to business on Monday under strict conditions. Theatres, exhibition halls and cinemas can reopen as well for a maximum of 100 people.
A woman laughs as people cheer with beers at an outdoor seating section of a pub, as the Czech government lifted more restrictions allowing restaurants with outdoor areas to re-open
Interior bar areas must remain closed, but outdoor seating areas were allowed to reopen from Monday
Outdoor seating of bars, restaurants and cafes can start to serve the first consumers since March 14 on Monday. Interiors still remain closed.
The government rules on social distancing and mandatory face masks in public remain in place.
NETHERLANDS
Primary schools will partially reopen Monday. Driving schools, hair salons, physiotherapists and libraries also return, with social distancing measures.
AUSTRIA
Hairdressers, tennis courts and golf courses reopened in the first weekend in May.
Travel restrictions have been lifted and gatherings of up to 10 people are allowed, with social distancing. Masks are compulsory in public transport and shops.
Final-year school students returned to class on May 4 ahead of a gradual return for others.
The first charted train transporting care workers from Romania has arrived in the Austrian capital of Vienna.
Austria has eased travel restrictions as it relaxes its coronavirus lockdown on Monday, allowed a chartered train to bring Romanian care workers to Vienna, where they will quarantine for 14 days before going to work in care homes
Romanian care worker disembarks a train in Vienna before going to work in the country's elderly care homes. Another train taking workers out who have been stranded since lockdown started will leave later today
The 80 Romanians arriving Monday are slated to help elderly people who need 24-hour care.
They now have to stay in a hotel at the Vienna airport to be tested for COVID-19. Once cleared, they'll be allowed to travel to their final destinations in Austria.
Austrian EU minister Karoline Edtstadler says it took several weeks of negotiations to organize the train corridor to bring in the care workers.
Many care workers who have been stuck in Austria for weeks can now take this train to go back to Romania. Another train bringing more workers to Austria is expected for Thursday.
SWITZERLAND
Primary and middle schools will reopen Monday, with classes often reduced in size. Restaurants, museums and bookshops will also open, with conditions. Meetings of more than five people remain banned.
UKRAINE
Ukraine has started easing its coronavirus lockdown, allowing some shops, hairdressers, beauty parlors and other businesses to reopen.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that the reopening effective Monday is conditional on observing social distancing and other precautions.
Ukraine has lifted a ban on gathering in parks, recreation zones, outdoor children's playgrounds and sports grounds, and open-air summer terraces as it eases lockdown
A hairdresser wearing a protective facemask cuts a customer's hair in Kiev, Ukraine, after small businesses were allowed to reopen as the lockdown is eased
Ukraine's underfunded health care system has been quickly overwhelmed by COVID-19, even though it has reported a relatively low number of cases - about 15,000 infections and more than 400 deaths as of Monday.
Aware of the desperate situation in the health care system, authorities ordered a strict coronavirus lockdown on March 12, complete with police patrols and tight restrictions on using public transportation.
The government has faced a strong pressure to ease the quarantine that has badly bruised the nation's economy. Doctors fear that relaxing the restrictions could trigger a new wave of contagion.
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