In France, all shops are re-opening as the country begins to lift the lockdown that was brought in on March 17.

It is a boost to the embattled retail sector but there is no similar respite for the hospitality sector as restaurants, cafes and bars must stay closed across the country until at least the start of June.

Primary schools can re-open as well but whether children head back to the classroom is at the discretion of parents. 

For people who cannot work from home, May 11 saw the return of the Monday morning commute. Face masks were being handed out by station staff but not everyone was happy with the new rules.

Cedric Fortier, who works in insurance, says: "I had to queue this morning for my train. Some people on the train didn't have a mask."

"There is no distribution of masks in the Paris suburbs like there is in the centre. There are lots of commuters so social distancing isn't respected."

Another commuter, who gave his name only as Florian, accused the government of incompetence.

"Before we were told 'no mask - no problem' but now we have to wear one," he says. "It's stupid, we should have had masks since the beginning."

And though the lockdown is easing, new measures are actually coming into force. Wearing a mask is now compulsory when taking public transport.

Buses, trams and trains have put in place social-distancing measures with stickers on seats to ensure people sit away from each other and notices on carriage floors ensuring those who are standing also maintain a safe distance.

Those who are traveling at rush hour must still carry a government attestation document detailing their name, date of birth, address and why they are travelling, but for the rest of the population there is now no more requirement to fill in such forms when leaving the house to go shopping or for exercise.

However, government ministers are warning the public that the end of lockdown could be rolled back and strict confinement measures re-imposed if the situation deteriorates.

"If the virus were to resume its wild rush," cautioned health secretary Olivier Veran, "with lack of control and a risk to French people's health, we would again take lockdown measures, by zone, differentiated, as we did in the beginning, and see if the population is in danger."