Rifts in Many Nations Widen as Virus Lockdowns Ease

Rifts in Many Nations Widen as Virus Lockdowns Ease
People walk past a large billboard reading 'Believe me, these days will pass' at London Fields, in London, England, on May 7, 2020. Alex Pantling/Getty Images
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LONDON—Regional and political rifts are emerging in many countries over how fast to lift the lid on the coronavirus lockdowns, as worries about economic devastation collide with fears of a second wave of deaths.

French mayors are resisting the government’s call to reopen schools, while Italian governors want Rome to ease lockdown measures faster. As the British government looks to reopen the economy, Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon has warned that acting too fast could let the virus wreak havoc again.