How has Italy reacted to a cautious easing of lockdown?

ON Monday, Italians emerged from two months of strict coronavirus lockdown. People have reacted with joy and relief at being reunited with family members and finally being able to exercise outdoors. But others who have been struggling without work for eight weeks consider the easing too slow.

May 4 saw Italians out in force to enjoy their first walks and exercise far from home. Beach promenades were packed with people soaking up the sunshine.

Day 2 of phase 2 in Italy. Went for 20' walk for first time in 2 months.
Tall building is the Lombardia regional HQ, where all the news updates come from. pic.twitter.com/z932gGM5LZ

— Sarah Priestley (@SarahP_ELT) May 5, 2020

Those living in cities were finally able to wander around the streets to see how much the Covid-19 lockdown had changed their neighbourhood.

On day Italy emerges from #lockdown, tufts of grass growing between cobblestones in Rome’s Piazza Navona are visible result of 8 weeks without pedestrians. pic.twitter.com/YdOHbFs8qm

— Sylvia Poggioli (@spoggioli1) May 4, 2020

Bars and restaurants have been permitted to offer a takeaway service, so some residents toasted the new freedom with a takeaway coffee.

After over 50 days of #lockdown in #Italy, coffee bars finally open for takeaway, ready to provide that espresso fix #Covid_19 #coronavirusitalIa #EasingTheLockdown pic.twitter.com/9vnTLcUP8g

— Seema Gupta (@seemagup) May 4, 2020

The new rules mean family members who had not seen each other for two months could finally be reunited as the government has allowed visits to relatives within regions.

Italian girl hugs her grandparents for first time in months 🤗 🇮🇹

Five-year-old Cecilia has gone two months without seeing her grandparents, normally she would have seen them on a weekly basis.

Read how Italy is slowly lifting #coronavirus lockdown 👉 https://t.co/4O9vAj3Kri pic.twitter.com/qne77PaLOp

— Sky News (@SkyNews) May 5, 2020

Alongside celebration, however, there has been continued anger and protest by business owners who will not be allowed to reopen until June 1. Bars, restaurants, and hairdressers have been demonstrating to express their desire and need to resume work.

Storekeepers hold a flashmob protest demanding the reopening of shops and commercial activities in Venice, as Italy starts to ease its lockdown

📸 Marco Sabadin pic.twitter.com/2jHDTeEnCx

— AFP News Agency (@AFP) May 5, 2020

In the economically disadvantaged south of the country, remaining closed for another month will result in the failure of many commercial activities and will aggravate the economic and social emergency that is brewing.

Over the next few weeks, the government will have to find solutions that will keep at bay a second, possibly deadlier wave of coronavirus cases as well as avoiding economic collapse.