Some schools, attractions reopen in Czech Republic

Young children in the Czech Republic were allowed back to their classrooms on Monday following the government's decision last week to ease a tight lockdown in one of Europe's hardest-hit countries.

Children up to 5th grade have been given the green light to return to school, with preschoolers being tested for coronavirus by their parents before being allowed to join their peers.

Zoos and botanical gardens also reopened on Monday but only for viewing outdoor attractions and enclosures.

The Czech Republic has been under a severe lockdown since the beginning of March as it sought to slow down the spread of a highly contagious virus variant first found in Britain.

It has reported 1.58 million confirmed coronavirus cases with nearly 28,000 deaths.