LONDON: Britain partially lifted coronavirus restrictions on Monday, reopening shops, gyms, pub gardens and hairdressers, while India moved to ban exports of a virus treatment drug as a record surge of cases overwhelms its healthcare system. The government is desperate to avoid a hugely unpopular second lockdown but many states are tightening the screw. In worst-hit Maharashtra and its capital Mumbai, restaurants are shut and public gatherings of more than five people are banned. On Monday, Italy was to lift its lockdown in Lombardy, its worst-hit region, and several other regions with improving contagion statistics. Ireland will on Monday ease restrictions for the first time this year after more than 100 days of lockdown, while Slovenia will ease coronavirus restrictions and suspend a six-month-long curfew.

Source: Manila Times April 12, 2021 16:18 UTC