Spanish children ventured outside for the first time in weeks, and Italy and New York laid out partial reopening plans as marked decreases in deaths from the global coronavirus pandemic stirred hopes.
The global case tally for COVID-19 passed 3 million on Monday, according to data from the Johns Hopkins University.
The death toll rose to 209,000, but more than 885,975 people have recovered worldwide.
In one sign of the turnaround, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson returned to his Downing Street official residence, a month after he tested positive for the virus and later went into intensive care.
On the streets of hard-hit Spain, children hopped on bicycles and scooters as the government allowed children outside for the first time since mid-March.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has returned to work after being treated for coronavirus. Source: Downing Street
"They are super excited, very, very impatient. They were up at 6:30 am, saying 'We are going out, We are going out!'," Inmaculada Paredes said in Madrid.
Under the revised rules, children are allowed out once per day between 9:00am and 9:00pm, but cannot venture more than one kilometre from home.
With more than 23,000 fatalities, Spain has the third highest death toll in the world after Italy's 26,000. The United States has the highest death toll, which on Sunday neared 55,000.
Italy eases restrictions
Italy, which shut down in March as the disease's devastation became clear, gave the green light for wholesale stores and restaurants to resume business on May 4 and for people once again to stroll in parks and visit relatives.
Other shops will open three weeks later as will Italy's many museums - just in time for summer, when in ordinary times tourists would swarm the country.
But Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte told Italians that they would still have to wear face masks in public and rigorously observe social distancing.
Museums in Italy will start re-opening in mid-May. Source: AAP
"If you love Italy, keep your distance from others," Mr Conte said in a national address.
United States divided over states re-opening
In New York, where the signature bustle has been reduced to an eerie halt, Governor Andrew Cuomo said that a first stage of re-opening would start on May 15 if hospitalizations decrease.
Only construction and manufacturing would resume at first and solely in the north of the state rather than New York City, with a two-week delay and checks for new contagion before office-workers return.
The pandemic has forced more than half of humanity into lockdown, upending life as we know it and tipping the global economy toward a recession not seen in decades.
Rejecting the advice of top disease experts, the US state of Georgia allowed thousands of businesses to resume operations, from hairdressers to bowling alleys.
Construction will be one of the first industries to restart in New York. Source: AAP
"How long are we supposed to imprison ourselves?" said Mackenzie Scharf said as she enjoyed the return to the beach.
Oklahoma, another conservative-led state, will let restaurants, movie theatres and other public places reopen from May 1.
"People are still going to get it. But Oklahomans are safe and we're ready for a measured reopening," Governor Kevin Stitt told Fox News.
President Donald Trump, bracing for November elections, has been impatient to resume business.
The US leader faced a fresh volley of criticism after suggesting that coronavirus could be treated by shining ultraviolet light inside patients' bodies, or with injections of household disinfectant.
He lashed out Sunday at the media, threatening lawsuits and asking the "Noble Committee" to rescind awards - a reference to the Nobel Prize, which has no journalism category - in a tweet he later deleted.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others and gatherings are limited to two people unless you are with your family or household.
If you believe you may have contracted the virus, call your doctor (don’t visit) or contact the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080. If you are struggling to breathe or experiencing a medical emergency, call 000.
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