Europe edges out of lockdown: Italy, Poland and Hungary prepare to open parks and restaurants from tomorrow while Germany begins to open some schools next week

• Spaniards flocked the streets on Saturday after being allowed out to exercise
• Italy is to follow tomorrow by opening parks and restaurants can offer takeaways
• Germany to continue its easing, with schools in some areas expected to reopen
• Slovenia, Hungary and Poland to allow public spaces and restaurants to open
• France to partially lift lockdown on May 11, including opening primary schools

By AFP and CHRIS DYER FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 21:30 BST, 2 May 2020 | UPDATED: 14:40 BST, 3 May 2020

Europe today prepared for a further cautious easing of coronavirus restrictions following signs the pandemic may be slowing, with hard-hit Italy set to follow Spain in allowing people outside.

Spaniards flocked to the streets on Saturday to jog, cycle and rollerskate for the first time after 48 days of confinement as Italy is due start gradually relaxing its strict lockdown measures tomorrow.

More than 242,000 people have been killed and 3.4 million infected worldwide by the virus, which has left half of humanity under some form of lockdown and pushed the global economy towards its worst downturn since the Great Depression.

With signs that the spread of the contagion has been brought under control, parts of Europe and the United States have begun to lift restrictions to try to inject life into economies crippled by weeks of closures and ease the pressure from populations wearying of captivity.

After a two-month lockdown in Italy – with the second-highest number of virus deaths in the world – people on Monday will be allowed to stroll in parks and visit relatives. Restaurants can open for takeaway and wholesale stores can resume business