An Irish man in Italy has said just being able to get out for a walk is 'fantastic', as strict coronavirus restrictions begin to be eased in parts of the country.
Michael McKinney is originally from Bundoran in County Donegal and lives in Trieste in Italy.
Italy has been one of the countries most impacted by the pandemic, with over 160,000 cases and 21,000 deaths reported.
While the hardest hit areas of Italy continue to implement strict measures, other regions have begun to allow limited reopening of some shops and businesses.
Bookshops, stationary stores, laundries and children’s clothes stores are some of the shops now reopening on a trial basis, with social distancing and hygiene measures remaining in place.
Speaking on Breakfast Briefing, Mr McKinney said there was a point where they couldn't leave their house for any reason other than grocery shopping.
He explained: "In Ireland, you were able to leave your house for exercise - that wasn't allowed here.
"One member of the household could leave to go do the shopping, but that was it.
"If you were 200m from your house even walking the dog, you had to present papers and ID."
Mr Kinney said it was "great to hear of anything opening up again".
He observed: "We were locked in all the time - even just being able to go for a walk around the waterfront here in the city is fantastic.
"The likes of bookshops now are going to open up again... it's very specific things that are reopening, but it's good to see it moving in the right direction.
"At the moment... you don't see anything or anyone out and about. Even just to see a small movement in that direction is fantastic."
Mr McKinney stressed they're "very lucky" in their region to be getting some reopenings, whereas the hardest-hit Lombardy region is not seeing any easing of restrictions.
He said: "Even just getting out... that's the main thing for us here. We're a little stir crazy at this point.
"My wife in particular would love to just get out for a hike... just to get into a bit of countryside after all this."
