While most of Switzerland is preparing for tighter lockdown restrictions because of Covid-19, the country's French-speaking regions are going in the other direction allowing restaurants to reopen after a drop in cases from one of the worlds highest rates of infection roughly a month ago.

Authorities in five cantons, or regions, around the cities of Geneva and Lausanne are allowing restaurants to reopen, under strict conditions, according to AP.

Swiss authorities have sought to strike a balance between more stringent anti-Covid measures in neighboring countries like France, Germany and Italy hoping to limit economic fallout and rely on individual responsibility through physical distancing, hand hygiene and other prevention measures.