According to Agence France-Presse, the Prime Minister of France Edouard Philippe announced that museums and monuments will be allowed to reopen in France from June 2, marking the second phase of the gradual lifting of France's strict coronavirus lockdown.

People can go back to museums, but with a mask all the way through the visit.

On May 28, France announced the long-awaited nationwide reopening of bars, restaurants and cafes from June 2, albeit with restrictions, and lifted limitations on domestic travel in time for the summer holidays.

Camping sites and holiday resorts will reopen too, from June 22, and parks, gardens, beaches and lakes from next week.

In Prime Minister Edouard Philippe's address on Thursday, he promised that "freedom will, at last, again become the rule."

Diners will be no more than 10 to a table, with at least one meter separating each group. Clients will have to wear masks when they move around the restaurant and staff will have to wear them all the time. In the Paris region, only outdoor seating will be allowed.

And as the summer holiday season looms, the French will be allowed again to travel freely across the country – instead of being limited to 100 kilometers from home now.

France is one of the world's hardest-hit countries by the coronavirus and was under strict lockdown for two months before starting to ease restrictions on May 11. Authorities have reported at least 28,596 COVID-19-related deaths.

(With input from AFP)