Bars, shops and cultural spaces across France have reopened their doors as the country starts lifting restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of coronavirus.From Wednesday, groups of up to six people are allowed to eat together at outdoor restaurant terraces.France's nationwide curfew is also being pushed back from 19:00 to 21:00.
Austria has also allowed restaurants, cinemas and theatres to open for the first time in six months.joker game
Customers with a Green Pass showing a negative test, vaccinations or recovery from an infection will now be able to take advantage of Austria's new rules.Austria's government has also announced that travellers from certain countries with low rates of infections will no longer have to quarantine from Wednesday, although they will still need to provide proof of a negative test, vaccinations or a recent infection.Most European countries appear on the approved list, although the UK and Sweden are not included.
Austria entered its second nationwide lockdown in November after reporting record numbers of daily infections. Fewer than 600 new cases were reported on Tuesday, down from a peak of 9,586 on 12 November.
What's the latest in France?
Following months of closures, Wednesday's easing of restrictions means that along with restaurants, cafes and non-essential shops, cinemas, theatres, museums and sports venues are also welcoming customers.The Paris correspondent, Lucy Williamson, says people are excited about the prospect of a return of social life in France.
One woman, our correspondent adds, had organised a day off work in order to sit through three screenings at her local cinema - back to back.
Some medical experts in the country had raised concerns about the number of new daily Covid-19 infections, which now average about 13,000.But that figure is far lower than the peaks of more than 40,000 daily cases recorded as recently as last month.
France's vaccination campaign has also been accelerating in recent weeks, with more than 20 million people (nearly a third of the population) now having received at least one dose, and almost nine million having received both.
The government had set a target of vaccinating 20 million people with a first dose of the jab by mid-May.