German authorities have drawn up a strategy to relax the country’s nationwide lockdown measures when the current shutdown order expires on April 19. The plan would allow a phased return to daily life in Europe’s largest economy.

The action plan was drafted by the Interior Ministry and obtained by Reuters. Infected individuals and people they had contact with would still be required to quarantine, but stores would be allowed to reopen, along with schools in certain regions of the country. It would also be made compulsory to wear protective masks on buses, trains and public buildings. The measures would relax border controls but continue to ban large public gatherings.

Germany has been on lockdown since March 22 and reported few violations. The government on March 16 shut its borders with France, Switzerland and Austria.

As of Monday at 1:35 p.m. ET, there are 100,770 cases of coronavirus in Germany, with the country’s death toll at 1,612.

Austria announced Monday that the country would make plans to begin lifting its coronavirus lockdown next week, reopening shops of less than 400 square meters on April 14. Schools would still be closed until mid-May, while public events would be prohibited until June.

Like Germany, Austria imposed a national lockdown on March 16. Austria has had roughly 12,300 coronavirus cases and 220 deaths.

There have been other positive signs in Europe with combating the coronavirus. The Spanish government reported 637 deaths on Monday, down from 674 deaths on Sunday. Italy also reported its lowest death toll in two weeks on Sunday, with the country having imposed a lockdown almost a month ago.

The coronavirus will likely push Europe into a recession, due to non-essential businesses being shut down in many countries.

There are over 1.3 million confirmed cases of coronavirus around the world, with the death toll approaching 73,000.

RELATED STORIES
Coronavirus Germany