This weekend, Belgium became the latest European nation to lift some of the restrictions designed to stop the spread of coronavirus.

DIY and gardening stores were allowed to open their doors for the first time in a month, and at one big hardware and garden centre in the capital Brussels, people were queuing from when the doors opened.

Some told Sky News they were desperate to get supplies to keep them occupied at home.

Image: Social distancing measures are still in place

One man coming to buy items for his garden said: "I think it is good that people can have some things to do at home, whether it is in the garden or doing some construction work.

"It will be good to keep the spirits up and make sure people can control the next few weeks if necessary at home."


A woman wearing a mask while buying building supplies with her elderly father said: "If the right measures are taken there are no differences going to buy some food or some of this other stuff. After all, people have to make themselves busy."

There seemed to be a sense of relief amongst people that they could shop to find something constructive to do while the limits on social movement and contact continue.

And there was a sense of relief too for the staff at the Brico store, who have been off work for weeks.

Store manager Olivier Moulan told us: "Some of our employees are happy to be back at work as they were put on unemployment benefits when the shops were forced to close."

Image: Some people say they have been desperate to get supplies

Image: Only 20 people are allowed in at a time

He said staff had been reassured it would be safe to work. Social distancing would be enforced and only 20 people allowed in at a time.

"I feel safe and having had a conversation with my staff this morning, they also will be as long as they continue to follow the measures we've brought in."

The sense of relief of staff and shoppers is likely to be shared in Germany on Monday when smaller non-essential shops up to 800 square metres will be allowed to start trading again.

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel decided that sufficient progress - what she called "fragile intermediate success"- had been made with slowing the spread of COVID-19, meaning some businesses could open again.

But in Germany, people will still have to keep their distance from each other and gatherings of more than two people other than family members living in the same household will be restricted.

Image: Police are patrolling the stores

Schools, cafes and bars will remain closed for now.

Germany will review the situation at the end of the month.

The real concern is that lifting controls could undo the progress made with tackling coronavirus.

And depending on what happens in Germany and elsewhere, there is no guarantee tougher measures won't have to be implemented again.