Coronavirus: Second-wave fear as nations lift lockdowns

Plastic spacing barriers and millions of masks have started appearing on the streets of Europe’s newly reopened cities.

Customers drink on a terrace bar in Tarragona, Spain, on Monday. Picture: AP

Plastic spacing barriers and millions of masks have started ­appearing on the streets of ­Europe’s newly reopened cities, as France and Belgium emerged from lockdowns, The Netherlands sent children back to school and Spain let people eat outdoors.

In loosening its lockdown, Germany has spelled out a specific level of infection that could lead to the reimposition of restrictions. Other countries, and US states, are vague about what would trigger another clampdown.

With Monday’s partial reopening in France, crowds formed at some Paris metro stations, but the city’s notorious traffic jams were absent. Only half the stores on the Champs-Elysees were open.

Parisian hairdressers planned to charge a fee for the protective gear they must give customers. Walk-ins will be a thing of the past at the Hair de Beaute salon. “The face of beauty will change, meaning clients won’t come here to relax. Clients will come because they need to,” said Aurelie Bollini, a beautician at the salon.

Across the Atlantic, hair salons in Florida contended with tight regulations and pent-up demand.

In South Korea, the government stopped school reopenings planned for this week and reimposed restrictions on nightclubs and bars as it tried to track down 5500 patrons of a Seoul nightlife district. About half of Spain’s 47 million people shifted into looser restrictions, beginning to socialise, shop in small stores and sit outdoors at restaurants.

AP