Coronavirus lockdown measures are gradually being eased across central and eastern Europe, with key petrochemicals-intensive industries restarting.
The Czech Republic started on Monday a four-phase, two-month plan to reopen shops, with many small ones now allowed to serve customers.
Larger stores will be permitted to reopen on 11 May, and restaurants and shopping malls to follow on 8 June, although the plan could be revised should there be a spike in infections.
The plan also commits to a partial reopening of schools for student admission and graduation exams in its last phase, but normal schooling will not restart before the new academic year in September.
Borders are to remain closed except for travel necessary for business, medical or family reasons with a 14-day quarantine required on return.
Any wider reopening of borders will only be implemented in coordination with fellow EU member states.
Where Czech industry is concerned, there was progress last week when Hyundai Motor Co’s car plant became the first automaker in the country to return to work after a three-week shutdown.
Tyre maker Barum Continental also reopened.
Automotive is a key end market for petrochemicals to which the industry sells around 20% of its output.
However, Toyota Peugeot Citroen Automobile producer has extended its outage to 4 May, scrapping plans to relaunch on 17 April, while Skoda Auto has decided to remain closed until 27 April.
Czech authorities had logged 6,914 coronavirus cases and 196 deaths as of Tuesday, with the number of new infections below 300 per day in the past 20 days.
Deputy Health Minister Roman Prymula said the virus reproduction or transmission rate, dubbed “R level”, was now less than 1, meaning a person with the virus was typically infecting less than one person on average, and the epidemic could be described as in decline.
Czechs have been legally required to wear face masks while outside their homes since mid-March and that requirement will be kept in place until further notice.
In Poland, Monday brought some relaxation of curbs on outdoor activities.
Poles regained access to parks and forests while restrictions on the number of people allowed in shops were relaxed.
The day before the measures were eased, Poland received bad news when a new one-day record for coronavirus infections was set at 545.
Poland’s coronavirus infections tally stood at 9,737, with 385 fatal cases, by Tuesday.
Face masks outside the home are also compulsory in Poland, where further lockdown relaxations will be announced as and when officials assess that the infection rate merits them.
In Hungary, the government has announced that it the country’s coronavirus peak to occur in mid-May and has launched a controversial programme to clear tens of thousands of hospital beds in preparation for it.
By Tuesday, Hungary officially had 2,098 infections and 213 deaths.
The Hungarian government has decided to go ahead with the baccalaureate exams for secondary schools in May, leading to protests from teacher unions, although students are allowed to opt out and take their exams at a later date.
Hungary’s leading carmaker Audi announced last week a restart of production after a four-week shutdown.
Like its central and eastern European peers, it is implementing safety distancing between workers.
Suzuki and Daimler are to reopen their Hungarian plants on April 27 and 28, respectively.
Hankook Tire Magyarorszag, which employs more than 3,300 people and turns out 19m tyres a year, restarted production at its plant in central Hungary last week.
In Slovakia, the government is planning to reopen small shops of up to 300 square metres, outdoor sports grounds and restaurants for takeaway from 22 April.
Any further steps would follow with a two-week delay upon an assessment of the initial relaxation, Prime Minister Igor Matovic said.
Volkswagen Slovakia, the country’s largest employer, restarted production on Monday at its three plants after a month-long stoppage.
Slovakia has recorded 1,199 coronavirus cases and 14 deaths.