Victoria in Australia, Japan, South Africa, Scotland, and other big cities in Spain have announced the lifting of tough lockdown measures anytime this week. Their announcements as a number of infections and deaths due to COVID-19 globally continue to increase.
As of May 24, COVID-19 has infected 5,204,508 people. The World Health Organization reported 101,502 new cases in the past 24 hours from May 23 to May 24. The novel coronavirus first detected in December 2019 has killed a total of 337,687 people worldwide, plus 4,286 fatalities in the past 24 hours.
As COVID-19 continues to ravage the world, Victoria, the second-most populous state in the country, announced it will reopen some sector of the economy by the end of May. Australia has one of the lowest numbers of cases worldwide. Currently, it reported a total of 7,106 cases and 11 total deaths in the past 24 hours. The country has 102 total deaths and only 1 fatality in the past 24 hours.
By May 31, Victoria will overnight stays in local hotels and other tourism places. Campgrounds and caravan parks will also be allowed to welcome visitors. Weddings and funerals can have 20 and 50 guests respectively. Religious ceremonies can have 20 attendees. Libraries, youth centers, drive-in cinemas, zoos, and amusement parks will reopen as long as strict social distancing is observed. At the same time, nail salons, spas, and tattoo parlors are only allowed to service 20 customers.
If local transmission continues to decline, more sectors in Victoria Australia will be open by June 22. Next for reopening are cafes, restaurants, and finally cinemas and theaters.
Meanwhile, the Japanese government announced it is set to lift strict lockdowns in Tokyo and four other regions still on alert. Tokyo has been on a strict lockdown in seven weeks. The Japanese government is looking to finally open schools, gyms, museums, and restaurants but with limited or reduced office hours. Sports events like baseball will push through but without an audience. Other events will have limited attendees at 50.
Japan has 16,550 total cases and 14 news cases reported in the past 24 hours. The Asian country has a total of 820 deaths and 12 new fatalities in the past 24 hours.
Another region planning to reopen is South Africa beginning June 1. The most industrialized economy in Africa has been on a shut down since March. It has 21,343 total number of infections and 1,218 new cases. The virus has killed 417 South Africans so far. The government said lifting the restrictions in a phase-to-phase process.
In Spain, other parts that remained on the lockdown have expressed plans to lift restrictions in the coming weeks. One of those is Madrid, Barcelona, parts of Castile and Leon. Other regions in Spain have already reopened in the past weeks. Spain is among the hardest-hit country in Europe.
In Scotland, people will soon be allowed to go outdoors by May 28. Sports such as tennis and golf can restart and people can walk in parks and other similar places. Schools could be open by August 11.
