Relief for Paris restaurants as COVID-19 lockdown ends

Paris cafe and restaurant owners cheered as the government allowed them to reopen their dining rooms after three months of lost revenue during the coronavirus lockdown.

The sooner-than-expected reopening for the Paris region was announced by President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday as news came of France's lowest daily COVID-19 toll since March - nine deaths in 24 hours.

Customers eat at the restaurant Garnier in Paris.

While restaurants across most of France were allowed to open earlier this month, those in and around the capital, where circulation of the coronavirus remained high, could serve clients only on outdoor terraces until now.

A waiter takes the order at La Coupole restaurant.

People have lunch at the restaurant La Coupole in Paris.

A waiter serves customers at a terrace of a restaurant in Paris.

Waiters work at the terrace of a cafe in Paris.

Waiters present the menu to customers at The Select restaurant in Paris.

Waiters work at the terrace of a cafe in Paris.

An employee, wearing a protective face mask, serves customers during the reopening of the hall of the Mesturet restaurant in Paris.

A board with face masks instructions is placed on a terrace to go inside a Daguerre restaurant in Paris.

Customers take a selfie as they enjoy a lunch at a restaurant in Paris. | The COVID-19 epidemic has claimed more than 29,000 lives in France, one of the world's highest reported tolls.

Customers queue outside a restaurant in Paris. | Health Minister Olivier Veran on Monday proclaimed that "the bulk of the epidemic is behind us" but warned the virus was "not completely defeated."

Two women sit at the terrace of a cafe in Paris. | Some restaurateurs fear it will take a long time for business to come back.