Geneva starts to reopen after virus lockdown

Switzerland began a gradual return towards near-normal Monday amid a recent decline in confirmed coronavirus cases, after the government relaxed nearly two months of restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The lockdown had closed schools, offices, restaurants and nearly all stores except food vendors and pharmacies.

At the Café du Centre at Geneva's Place du Molard, staff members erected plexiglass partitions between tables and used disinfectant to meet federal rules about social distancing and hygiene.

Blaise Gumy, the restaurant's operational manager, said his staff and customers were happy for the restaurant to be back in business.

Geneva’s old-city shopping district got a bit more bustle as children returned to class and stores reopened their doors.

Switzerland's federal office of public health said Monday that only 39 new coronavirus cases were recorded over the last day, confirming a decline from a peak of nearly 1,500 tallied in a single day on March 23.

The country has recorded 30,344 confirmed cases and 1,543 deaths.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.

For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and could lead to death.