In Europe, COVID-19 lockdowns ease as vaccine drives make headway

Months of restrictions are starting to be lifted across the region, but officials have urged continued caution.

Schools, stores and beaches have reopened in several parts of Europe as the continent eases out of months of COVID-19 lockdowns amid ongoing mass vaccination efforts and falling infection rates. Exhilarated Spaniards chanting “freedom” danced in the streets as a COVID-19 curfew ended in most of the country at the weekend, while Greece reopened public beaches – with deckchairs safely spaced – nursery, elementary and middle schools on Monday. Ireland meanwhile lifted domestic travel restrictions and began a phased reopening of non-essential retail, and in Germany, a first weekend of summer sun lifted spirits after Health Minister Jens Spahn declared the third wave of the pandemic finally broken.