Austria could start loosening lockdown from April 14

Austria could start easing its coronavirus lockdown measures from next week, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said Monday, but warned that this depended on citizens abiding by social distancing rules.

"The aim is that from April 14... smaller shops up to a size of 400 square metres, as well as hardware and garden stores can open again, under strict security conditions of course," Kurz said at a press conference.

He added that if the government's timetable goes to plan, larger shops will reopen on 1 May and from mid-May hotels, restaurants and other services could also start to open their doors again in stages.

However, he stressed that the restrictions on movement that Austria has introduced to fight the spread of COVID-19 remained in place and called on Austrians not to celebrate Easter with people outside their household.

Schools will remain closed until mid-May and public events will remain banned until the end of June, Kurz said.

If trends in infection began to worsen again, the government "always has the possibility to hit the emergency brake" and re-introduce restrictions, he said.

The country of 8.8 million people currently has 12,058 confirmed infections, with 204 deaths and 2,998 people who have recovered.