May 10, 2020 - World

In photos: Countries ease lockdown restrictions

Rebecca Falconer

Members of staff visit the Tchip hair dressing salon which is carrying out a test run with the use of face masks and markers on the floor — Hair salon staff in Bruay-la-Buissière, northern France, carry out a test run of strict new distancing and hygiene measures on Friday ahead of the country allowing such businesses to reopen on Monday if they meet such requirements. Photo: Denis Charlet/AFP via Getty Images

From Austria to Australia, countries have begun to relax lockdown restrictions introduced to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The big picture: The number of COVID-19 cases continues to climb, but several countries are beating back outbreaks. The virus has killed almost 280,000 people and infected more than 4 million globally, per Johns Hopkins. With the IMF predicting the pandemic will cause global GDP to contract by 3% this year, governments are beginning to reopen economies with strict health measures in place.

Prayers during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, while keeping a safe distance from each other, at the Mohammed Al-Amin Mosque in the Lebanese capital Beirut's downtown district — Friday prayers during the fasting month of Ramadan at a mosque in Beirut, Lebanon, after authorities eased some restrictions. Photo: Anwar Amro/AFP via Getty Images

People wearing face masks walk down Paseo de la Castellana street during the hours allowed on May 9 — People out walking on a street pedestrianized in response to the pandemic during permitted hours in Madrid, Spain, on Saturday. Photo: Ely Pineiro/Getty Images

Server Gabby Fasoline carries glasses by a table as Bill Boldt and his wife Barbara Boldt of Nevada — A Las Vegas restaurant on Saturday, the first day that dine-in restaurants, hair and nail salons, some retail stores, and other nonessential businesses have been allowed to reopen with physical distancing measures and other strict guidelines in place. Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Mayor of New Taipei City Yu Yi Hou visit the stadium to check the social distance prior to the CPBL game between Fubon Guardians and Uni-Lions at the Xinzhuang Baseball Stadium — The mayor of New Taipei City checks the social distance before a game at the Xinzhuang Baseball Stadium, which opened to a small number of fans on Friday for the first time since Taiwan's lockdown began. Photo: Gene Wang/Getty Images

An Austrian officer checks the outfit of a soldier while he stands guard outside the 'Weiherraum' memorial on May 8, 2020, in Vienna. — Soldiers in Vienna on Friday. Austria was one of the first countries to ease restrictions, beginning in April, notes the BBC, which reports that eateries will be allowed to open in mid-May. Photo: Joe Klamar/AFP via Getty Images

School director Juan Carlos Boeck (L) instructs the students about social distancing rules at the schoolyard of the Petri primary school in Dortmund, western Germany — A teacher with students in Dortmund, western Germany, after fourth-graders were allowed to return to school on May 7. Photo: Ina Fassbender/AFP via Getty Images

A customer has her temperature tested prior to entering the Apple Store at Bondi Junction on May 07 — New strict guidelines in place at an Apple Store at Bondi Junction in Sydney after reopening on May 7. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced Friday a three-step process to remove all domestic restrictions nationwide by July amid a major testing and contact-tracing drive. Photo: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

People standing in queue while maintaining distance at a grocery store in Munirka, on May 6, 2020 in New Delhi, India. — People line up outside a grocery store in New Delhi, India, on May 6. The country allowed more businesses to reopen with stringent measures on May 4, AP notes though some restrictions will remain in place until at least May 18. Photo: Amal KS/Hindustan Times via Getty Images

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In photos: Countries ease lockdown restrictions

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