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Portugal has begun easing some coronavirus lockdown restrictions, after having been in a state of emergency since mid- march.

The country recorded just over 1,000 deaths for a population of around 10 million people.<!--more-->

Small stores will be allowed to reopen from Monday, though the larger stores will have to wait until 1st of June to reopen.

The lockdown had shut most non-essential services and even before the state of emergency was imposed, Portugal closed schools and nightclubs, banned gatherings of large groups, suspended flights to Italy and halted tourism with Spain.

​COVID-19: A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS
UK GOVT TO ANNOUNCE PLANS TO EASE LOCKDOWN NEXT WEEK

OC:

UK Cabinet Minister Michael Gove says that Prime Minister Boris Johnson will set out a plan next week, on how the country may be able gradually to ease lockdown restrictions.

VO:
This comprehensive plan will explain how to get the UK economy moving, how children can get back to school, how citizens can travel to work more safely, and how to make life in the workplace safer.

But mr Gove said before the existing restrictions could be eased, the government's five tests must be met.

These include ensuring that the number of cases are falling, death rates are declining, the NHS is prepared, and that measures are in place to stop a second peak overwhelming the NHS.
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