Singapore&nbsp;will begin slowly easing a month-long partial lockdown from next week after the curbs succeeded in stemming a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus</a> outbreak, authorities said Thursday.

The city-state has weathered the pandemic largely unscathed but saw an uptick in local transmissions in recent weeks as new variants spread.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-singapore-finds-delta-most-prevalent-among-coronavirus-variants-locally-390316">COVID-19: Singapore finds delta most prevalent among coronavirus variants locally</a>

Fresh restrictions were introduced in mid-May, including a cap on the size of social gatherings at two, the closure of schools and a ban on dining-in at restaurants.&nbsp;

With cases falling steadily, maximum sizes for gatherings will be lifted to five from Monday, and bigger groups will be allowed at events such as live performances.

If the situation remains under control, more restrictions will be lifted from June 21, including a resumption of restaurant dine-ins, while people will be allowed to work out at gyms without masks.

However, employees who can work from home must continue to do so.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/singapores-death-toll-from-covid-19-tops-casualties-in-sars-outbreak-390385">Singapore's death toll from COVID-19 tops casualties in SARS outbreak</a>

Trade Minister Gan Kim Yong, a member of a government task force dealing with the virus, said the city-state's outbreak was now "under control".

"Over the last few weeks, the number of COVID-19 cases... has fallen progressively, fewer clusters are emerging and (are) generally smaller clusters."

Schools have been closed since last month amid fears that new variants were affecting youngsters more.

The&nbsp;Singapore&nbsp;outbreak led to the cancellation, for the second time, of a quarantine-free travel corridor with Hong Kong.&nbsp;Singapore&nbsp;said the plan would be reviewed again in early July.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-virus-surge-singapore-set-to-vaccinate-students-from-june-3-388595">Amid virus surge, Singapore set to vaccinate students from June 3</a>

At the start of the pandemic,&nbsp;Singapore&nbsp;saw sizeable outbreaks in crowded dormitories housing low-paid foreign workers that infected tens of thousands.&nbsp;

But by global standards, its experience with the virus has been mild. Officials in the city of 5.7 million have reported about 62,000 cases so far and 34 deaths.

Singapore will begin slowly easing a month-long partial lockdown from next week after the curbs succeeded in stemming a coronavirus outbreak, authorities said Thursday.

Singapore will begin slowly easing a month-long partial lockdown from next week after the curbs succeeded in stemming a coronavirus outbreak, authorities said Thursday. The city-state has weathered the pandemic largely unscathed but saw an uptick in local transmissions in recent weeks as new variants spread. Also read | COVID-19: Singapore finds delta most prevalent among coronavirus variants locally Fresh restrictions were introduced in mid-May, including a cap on the size of social gatherings at two, the closure of schools and a ban on dining-in at restaurants. With cases falling steadily, maximum sizes for gatherings will be lifted to five from Monday, and bigger groups will be allowed at events such as live performances. If the situation remains under control, more restrictions will be lifted from June 21, including a resumption of restaurant dine-ins, while people will be allowed to work out at gyms without masks. However, employees who can work from home must continue to do so. Also read | Singapore's death toll from COVID-19 tops casualties in SARS outbreak Trade Minister Gan Kim Yong, a member of a government task force dealing with the virus, said the city-state's outbreak was now "under control". "Over the last few weeks, the number of COVID-19 cases... has fallen progressively, fewer clusters are emerging and (are) generally smaller clusters." Schools have been closed since last month amid fears that new variants were affecting youngsters more. The Singapore outbreak led to the cancellation, for the second time, of a quarantine-free travel corridor with Hong Kong. Singapore said the plan would be reviewed again in early July. Also read | Amid virus surge, Singapore set to vaccinate students from June 3 At the start of the pandemic, Singapore saw sizeable outbreaks in crowded dormitories housing low-paid foreign workers that infected tens of thousands. But by global standards, its experience with the virus has been mild. Officials in the city of 5.7 million have reported about 62,000 cases so far and 34 deaths.

Singapore to ease curbs as virus cases fall

Far-right extremists tried to storm the German parliament building during a protest against the Coronavirus pandemic restrictions. Extremists were intercepted by police and forcibly removed.

Berlin: 'Anti-Corona' protests snowball into far-right protests

Berlin: 'Anti-Corona' protests snowball into far-right protests, extremists try to storm govt. building

Over 38,000 of people have protested in the German capital Berlin against Coronavirus restrictions. Protesters said that they are defending their democratic freedom, Berlin police arrested hundreds of them.

Berlin: Thousands march to protest against COVID-19 restrictions

Thousands of people have marched through the German capital Berlin in protest at Coronavirus restrictions. Police imposed mandatory mask-wearing and social distancing - and by midday ordered demonstrators to disperse for flouting the order.

Berlin police calls off 'anti-corona' protest against Coronavirus curbs

Hundreds of Moscow residents flocked to an open-air book fair in Red Square on Saturday, though some publishing houses opted to stay away as city authorities keep most coronavirus restrictions in place. 
 
Organisers of the annual book fair, which was attended by 300,000 people last year, have implemented numerous measures to stem the spread of the virus - with chairs spaced one metre apart and temperature checks at the entrance.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/the-chips-are-down-as-monte-carlo-casino-reopens-after-coronavirus-closure-303778" hreflang="en">The chips are down as Monte Carlo casino reopens after coronavirus closure</a> 
 
"You either mourn that the industry is in crisis or go and take part in the book fair with all the precautions in place," said Natalia Eihwald from the Kompas-Gid children`s publishing house, one of about 180 publishers with stalls at the fair. 
 
She and her colleagues had to take coronavirus tests ahead of the event, which drew up to 600 visitors within hours of its opening. Some independent publishers refused to take part, however, citing the possible health risk.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/film-and-tv-production-can-resume-as-early-as-june-12-in-california-303776" hreflang="en">Film and TV production can resume as early as June 12 in California</a> 
&nbsp;&nbsp; 
"We don't want to put our employees and our authors as well as our readers at risk," said Pavel Podkosov, director-general of the Alpina Non-Fiction publishing house, which lost up to 60% of its income due to the lockdown compared with the same period last year. 
 
"(Taking part) would be like staging a carnival in a hospital ward, which doesn't sound like much fun to us," he added. 
 
Most lockdown restrictions will remain in place in Moscow until at least June 14 and large public events are still banned. Because Red Square is controlled by the federal government, the state-organised book fair was able to go ahead. 
 
Along with social distancing measures and temperature checks, Russia`s Rospotrebnadzor consumer safety watchdog ordered frequent sanitation of the book fair site and mandatory use of face masks and gloves. 
 
The event organiser, Russia's state agency in charge of press and communications, Rospechyat, said it was an important way to support the publishing industry. 
 
From June 1, Moscow has allowed residents to resume outdoor activities and walks for short periods. Some stores, including book shops, also reopened. Russia has nearly 460,000 confirmed coronavirus cases as of Saturday, the world`s third-biggest number after the United States and Brazil.

Hundreds of Moscow residents flocked to an open-air book fair in Red Square on Saturday, though some publishing houses opted to stay away as city authorities keep most coronavirus restrictions in place.

Hundreds of Moscow residents flocked to an open-air book fair in Red Square on Saturday, though some publishing houses opted to stay away as city authorities keep most coronavirus restrictions in place. Organisers of the annual book fair, which was attended by 300,000 people last year, have implemented numerous measures to stem the spread of the virus - with chairs spaced one metre apart and temperature checks at the entrance. Also read: The chips are down as Monte Carlo casino reopens after coronavirus closure "You either mourn that the industry is in crisis or go and take part in the book fair with all the precautions in place," said Natalia Eihwald from the Kompas-Gid children`s publishing house, one of about 180 publishers with stalls at the fair. She and her colleagues had to take coronavirus tests ahead of the event, which drew up to 600 visitors within hours of its opening. Some independent publishers refused to take part, however, citing the possible health risk. Also read: Film and TV production can resume as early as June 12 in California "We don't want to put our employees and our authors as well as our readers at risk," said Pavel Podkosov, director-general of the Alpina Non-Fiction publishing house, which lost up to 60% of its income due to the lockdown compared with the same period last year. "(Taking part) would be like staging a carnival in a hospital ward, which doesn't sound like much fun to us," he added. Most lockdown restrictions will remain in place in Moscow until at least June 14 and large public events are still banned. Because Red Square is controlled by the federal government, the state-organised book fair was able to go ahead. Along with social distancing measures and temperature checks, Russia`s Rospotrebnadzor consumer safety watchdog ordered frequent sanitation of the book fair site and mandatory use of face masks and gloves. The event organiser, Russia's state agency in charge of press and communications, Rospechyat, said it was an important way to support the publishing industry. From June 1, Moscow has allowed residents to resume outdoor activities and walks for short periods. Some stores, including book shops, also reopened. Russia has nearly 460,000 confirmed coronavirus cases as of Saturday, the world`s third-biggest number after the United States and Brazil.

Moscow's annual book fair draws crowds despite coronavirus curbs

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