Portugal's government on Thursday unveiled a plan for a gradual exit from coronavirus lockdown, starting on Monday with the opening of some shops and businesses, according to AFP.

Some small shops will be allowed to reopen as will hair salons and car dealers and further restrictions will be lifted during May.

“We can start taking steps towards de-confinement,” said Prime Minister Antonio Costa as he shed light on the “transition plan” his cabinet has drawn up.

Portugal, which declared its first coronavirus cases several weeks after neighbouring Spain — one of Europe's worst hit countries — declared a state of emergency on March 19 and has to date recorded 1,000 deaths and some 25,000 cases.