Prognosis

European Leaders Accept Reopening Risks and Hope for Vaccine

Spain, Italy implement new opening measures this week
New Covid-19 cases in Germany, Russia, Spain all ease

A sign reads "Max 4 people" on the entrance door of a bar in Milan, Italy.
Photographer: Camilla Cerea/Bloomberg

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By John Follain, Charlie Devereux, and David Goodman

May 17, 2020 at 2:41 PM UTC

Updated on

May 17, 2020 at 6:36 PM UTC

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Europe is embarking on a period of uneasy coexistence with the coronavirus, with countries gently opening shuttered economies and looking to contain the outbreak via monitoring until a vaccine can be found.