1/ With all the talk of how lockdowns can eventually be ended, the EU Commission this week drew up an internal 'roadmap towards exiting from the Covid-19 pandemic' which provides some interesting and detailed ideas on how the gradual rollback of restrictions could be managed.

2/ First up, the document is a set of recommendations. It aims to foster a coordinated approach but ultimately it's up to individual Member States how they manage this process. Its publication intended for Weds has also been pushed back because some capitals think it's premature.

3/ It opens stressing that lockdowns are working but have 'come at dramatic costs for our economy and society, and cannot last indefinitely'. It warns 'the way back to normality will still require significant time and deployment of measures' so people should start planning now.

4/ Officials say relaxation of confinement 'will unavoidably lead to a corresponding increase in new cases' so timing of the decision is key. Two main criteria. Firstly, scientific evidence the spread of the disease 'has significantly decreased for a sustained period of time'.

5/ And secondly that 'sufficient health system capacity' has been built up to cope with a renewed spike in infections 'taking into account the occupation rate for Intensive Care Units, the availability of health care workers and related medical material'.

6/ This needs to be accompanied by an expansion in testing capacity and harmonisation of testing methodologies across EU countries 'in particular as regards fast (self-) testing to diagnose contagion and serological tests to measure the population’s acquired immunity'.

7/ Technology such as mobile apps will also be key so governments can 'gather harmonised data and develop a robust system of contact tracing'. Officials say that 'data on the spread of the virus, and the contacts of infected persons is essential to better manage the exit'.

8/ That done rolling back measures can be tackled. But the 'exit must be gradual' and 'measures must be lifted in different steps'. The document says 'sufficient time should be left between the steps' giving the example of a month 'as their effect can only be measured over time'.

9/ The lifting of lockdowns is to be approached with a strategy that 'wide measures must progressively be replaced by targeted ones'. It gives the example that the 'most vulnerable groups' such as the elderly 'must be protected for longer' than others who can be released earlier.

10/ Countries should start by lifting measures at a local level then expanding geographically so they can quickly clamp down on new outbreaks by reimposing lockdowns/quarantining areas. It also allows them to 'relax first the measures affecting the life of people more directly'.

11/ 'The re-start of economic activity must be phased in' with people released to physically return to work in stages based on criteria such as suitability for teleworking, economic importance, shift work etc. 'Not all population should go back to the workplace at the same time'.

12/ Meanwhile 'gatherings of people should be progressively permitted'. Early on shops and schools would reopen but with 'possible gradation' to maintain social distancing, such as limits on the number of people allowed in a store at one time and on student group numbers.

13/ Then cultural and social activities would resume with bars, restaurants, cinemas etc reopening but again with social distancing measures such as attendance caps and restricted opening hours. Bans on mass gatherings such as festivals would stay in place until a later stage.

14/ Finally, individual transport like private cars 'should be allowed ASAP' but 'collective means of transport' like trains and buses 'should be gradually phased in with necessary health-oriented measures'. Restrictions on international travel would also be lifted later on.

15/ All these measures must 'be continuously monitored and preparedness developed for returning to stricter containment measures in case of strong resurgence'. As I said, this is just an early set of draft recommendations but may give us some pointers for the future. ENDS.