Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte of Italy will unveil its reopening plans by weekend as the country aims to loosen coronavirus restrictions.
Italy will reopen its economy and recover from the coronavirus crisis.
Italy has the most number of coronavirus deaths in Europe, recording over 24,000 fatalities. The country has been under nationwide quarantine since March 9, with some regions implementing lockdowns even earlier.
The quarantine period was extended twice and will expire on May 3.
Meanwhile, Conte is attempting to balance avoiding a new surge in infections of the virus and preventing additional damage to the economy.
"I would like to be able to say, let's open everything. Right away," Conte wrote on Facebook.
"But such a decision would be irresponsible. It would make the contagion curve rise uncontrollably and would jeopardise all the efforts that we've made until now," he added.
A plan to gradually reopen the country, the so-called 'Phase 2,' would be laid out "before the end of this week," he said.
"We have to reopen on the basis of policy that takes into consideration all the details and cuts across all the data. A serious policy, scientific," Conte wrote.
"A reasonable expectation is that we will apply it from May 4."
Prevent crowding
However, Conte noted that in allowing businesses to reopen, officials must lay out plans on how employees would get to and from work to prevent crowding, which could spark new cases of infection.
Conte had instructed a task force formed by economists, lawyers, sociologists and other experts to evaluate post-lockdown measures that can help restart the economy while keeping workers safe. Former Vodafone chief executive Vittorio Colao leads the task force.
According to Conte, the plan would be national but would consider regional differences.
For example, some in Italy's poorer south found it unfair that they are experience the same lockdown conditions as the north, the hub of the contagion. The south of Italy has fewer coronavirus cases and lower population density in several parts.
The Mediterranean country recorded the first decline in the number of people infected with the coronavirus since detecting its first infection in February.
The number of patients who receive intensive care treatment also dropped to the lowest level in a month in the first direct health benefits of a devastating lockdown.
However, Italy's official death toll from the virus still soared to 24,114, making them second only to the United States.
Germany reopening economy
Another European country that is gradually reopening its economy is Germany.
Smaller retailers of under 800 square meters reopen on Monday. Larger car dealerships, bike shops, and book shops also resumed operations.
The government allows these businesses to continue running as long as they observe hygiene and social distancing measures.
Meanwhile, big public gatherings will not be able to push through until August 31. Cinemas, restaurants, and large retail stores are still close.
When it comes to reopening the economy, “Germany is in a better position because of more testing and contact data,” Bill Blain, a strategist for investment firm Shard Capital, told CNBC.
