In Italy, the gradual reopening of bars and restaurants

Italy is accelerating its deconfinement. This Monday, May 18, a whole series of small and large non-food businesses will reopen. Bars and restaurants, whose reopening was originally announced for June 1, are expected to resume service, according to national media. Especially in Rome.

Read also: Italy to reopen borders to EU tourists from June 3

The government fixed the general safety principles to be respected on Saturday from May 18. " Economic, productive and social activities must take place in accordance with " principles capable of " reducing the risk of contamination in the sector in question ". The 20 Italian regions then implement them according to local specificities.

Reopening of churches in Rome and St. Peter's Basilica

In Rome, while some of these measures had been anticipated by the press, since the beginning of the week, the owners and managers of bars, restaurants or shops in the capital have started work to prepare for the reopening. As early as Thursday, the mayor of Rome also announced its intention to speed up deconfinement and to reopen many activities.

The capital is also preparing for the reopening on Monday of the churches and the emblematic Saint Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, sites closed since March 10.

On Saturday, the Italian government also announced its intention to reopen its borders from June 3 to tourists from the European Union. The objective: to save the summer season when tourism is one of the main sectors of the Italian economy and represents around 13% of the GDP.