Al-Monitor - The Syrian government announced that businesses were allowed to reopen today in an easing of the coronavirus lockdown in the country.

Businesses and markets can now operate from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Syrian state news agency SANA reported. One journalist in the capital, Damascus, said that most businesses opened their doors today, but that civilian traffic was less than usual.

“The majority of places were open, but movement was light in most,” Ibrahim Joudeh told Al-Monitor.

Damascus closed businesses and instituted a curfew last month to curb the spread of the virus. People were only allowed to buy necessities during set hours and travel was restricted between provinces. The government also stopped its mandatory conscription of males into the army, according to Reuters.

The Syrian government enforced the curfew in the areas under its control, but much of the country’s north is ruled by Turkey, rebel groups and Kurdish forces.

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