Italy begins to emerge from world's longest nationwide lockdown

Italy : For the first time in nine weeks, Italians will be allowed to go on streets and meet their relatives as Europe's hardest-hit country eases back the world's longest nationwide coronavirus lockdown.

Nearly four million people – including 72 per cent of males – will return to their work in the economically and emotionally shattered country at the moment. 

Restaurants which have managed to survive the hard times will resume their services with takeaway measures.

The bars and even the ice-cream parlors will remain closed for the time being and people will have to mandatorily wear masks in public places.

“We are feeling a mix of joy and fear,” 40-year-old Stefano Milano said in Rome.

“There will be great happiness in being able to go running again carefree, in my son being allowed to have his little cousin over to blow out his birthday candles, to see our parents,” the father-of-three said.

“But we are also apprehensive because they are old and my father-in-law has cancer so is high risk”.

Lockdown in Italy started on March 8, when the death toll was just 724. With increased number of cases and death figures turning into hundreds every day, everything came to a halt and all services in Italy were suspended on March 12.

Only pharmacies and grocery stores were kept operational.

Conte’s final roll of the dice involved closing all non-essential factories on March 22.