Join us for the latest on the coronavirus crisis.
The global death toll due to COVID-19 passed 150,000 as daily death tolls continued to be in the hundreds for many of the worst affected countries in Europe.
According to data published by the Coronavirus Resource Center at the US Johns Hopkins University, the number of deaths worldwide stood at 156,064 on Saturday afternoon (CET).
In Spain the overall number of deaths rose above 20,000 on Saturday, according to latest health authority figures. But the daily figure of 565 was slightly down on the previous 24 hours. Nearly 40% of all coronavirus hospital patients have now been discharged after recovering.
The UK announced an additional 888 deaths in 24 hours on Saturday, as the total number of people killed by the virus topped 15,000. Russia reported another record daily jump in the number of cases.
There have also now been more than 1,000 deaths in African countries with Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and South Africa the worst hit by the pandemic.
"In the past week there has been a 51% increase in the number of reported cases in my own continent Africa and a 60% increase in the number of reported deaths," World Health Organisation director general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Friday.
"With the current challenge of obtaining testing kits, it's likely that the real numbers are higher than reported."
"With WHO support, most countries in Africa have the capacity to test for COVID-19, but there are still significant gaps to access to testing kits," Dr Tedros added.
Many European countries are looking towards a "new normal" with Italy and France recording decreases in hospitalisations, a sign of improvement in both countries.
New figures from Germany on Saturday showed another 3,609 cases compared to the previous day. The previous day the German government announced the epidemic was "under control" in the country, thanking people for staying home and doctors, nurses, and other workers for working to help others.
Germany has a low death toll compared to other badly hit European countries.
"We can now say that this succeeded... the infection rate has decreased significantly," said health minister Jens Spahn.
Here are the latest coronavirus updates:
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'Liberate!': Trump accused of fomenting COVID-19 rebellion with anti-lockdown tweets
'It's a myth that life in Sweden goes on as normal': Swedish government defends coronavirus strategy.
Air pollution plummets by more than 45% in major European cities
EU facing 'moment of truth', says Macron as he calls for greater financial burden-sharing.
China denies a cover-up after the number of COVID-19 deaths were revised sharply upwards.
UK announces task force to speed up hunt for coronavirus vaccine
UK says it is now able to carry out 38,000 coronavirus tests a day - it's aiming to hit 100,000 by the end of April.
View Friday's developments as they happened in the blog below.
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World Health Organisation says Chinese case increase was to 'leave no case undocumented'
New figures from China showed there have been nearly 1,300 extra deaths in Wuhan. The announcement came after criticism from Western leaders questioning the accuracy of the confirmed cases and death toll in China.
"This was done as an attempt to leave no case undocumented," said Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, the technical lead for the World Health Organisation's health emergencies programme.
"The discrepancies in these cases were due to a number of factors," she added, stating that some people had died at home and that there were delays in reporting and filling out forms.
She said it was a challenge in an outbreak to record numbers and she would "anticipate that many countries" will be in a "similar situation".
The Chinese government, meanwhile, has denied any "cover-up" over official casualty figures, after the sudden increase in the number of deaths was revealed.
Global death toll passes 150,000
There are at least 1,000 deaths in African countries with Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and South Africa the worst hit by the pandemic.
"In the past week there has been a 51% increase in the number of reported cases in my own continent Africa and a 60% increase in the number of reported deaths," said World Health Organisation director general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Friday.
"With the current challenge of obtaining testing kits, it's likely that the real numbers are higher than reported".
Trump urges people to "Liberate" states controlled by opposition party politicians
US President Donald Trump tweeted for supporters to "LIBERATE" three states that are all led by Democratic governors.
His tweets appeared to be in support of protests against stay-at-home orders aimed at controlling the coronavirus.
The tweets come a day after the US government released guidelines for relaxing restrictions in states, a process that will be led by state governors.
France records 761 additional deaths in 24 hours
There were 761 deaths in 24 hours in France, director general of health Jérôme Salomon said at a press conference.
This brings the total number of deaths in the country to 18,681.
There were an additional 243 people admitted to intensive care units in France, a decrease from the number of people admitted the day prior.
"We are seeing the reduction of the rhythm and speed of the epidemic. This is linked to the effort of French people. The message is a bit strange, but [after the lockdown measures] French people will continue to be responsible for stalling the virus [through their actions]," Salomon said.
Hospitalisations continue to decrease in Italy
Meanwhile, there were 575 new deaths and 3,493 new cases of the virus.
There have been a total of 172,434 cases in Italy and 22,745 deaths since the beginning of the crisis.
WHO concerned about fragile states being affected by Covid-19
There is one confirmed case in Yemen and at least 38 cases in Syria.
"We are concerned, we are alert but we are also aware that these populations face many more difficulties than COVID-19," Dr Ryan said, including famine and other diseases.
Don't compare countries as they are all in different stages of their epidemics, WHO says
Ryan added that governments will have to be "prudent" in how they lift lockdown measures to make sure they can "find" the virus through contacts and quarantining contacts.
He said all countries in Europe should eventually be phasing out measures only in ways that are gradual and prudent.
One World: Together at Home concert takes centre stage at WHO briefing
Joined by Global Citizen's Hugh Evans and singer Lady Gaga, Dr Tedros said that the fund already had $150 million from more than 245,000 individuals and groups.
"We call it one world together at home, it is a love letter to our doctors, a love letter to our nurses and other health care professionals" and other workers in groceries and transport, Lady Gaga said.
The concert will be streamed on several international networks and social media on Saturday night.
Five tests will have to be met before lockdown can be lifted, UK business secretary says
Alok Sharma said that the lockdown measures would stay in place until five tests were satisfied at the UK government's daily press conference.
- they can provide "sufficient critical care" to patients
- there is a sustained fall in the daily death rate
- they need to have reliable data showing that the rate of infection is decreasing
- they need to be confident that they have "testing capacity" and personal protective equipment supply to address the pandemic
- they also need to be confident that adjustments to the measures will not risk a second peak of the virus.
UK announces vaccine taskforce for coronavirus
Members of government, academia and industry will join forces to help develop it and make it available to the public.
The biggest concern will be the safety of the vaccine.
UK chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said that the most vulnerable in the population would be prioritised for access to any eventual vaccine.
UK government 'system errors' could lead to at least 40,000 COVID-19 deaths
£2.1m lost in coronavirus scams: UK authorities
Duterte threatens martial law as tens of thousands flout confinement
UK charters 17 flights to return nationals from India
Netherlands fatalities rise by 144
UK COVID-19 hospital deaths pass 14,000
London housemates 'climb' Everest despite lockdown
How did Charlie Harbord and Harry Richards ascend 8,848 metres while stuck indoors, and how long did it take?
Watch and read Trent Murray's reports for Good Morning Europe:
Avid hikers raise thousands for frontline healthcare workers
Life can be pretty monotonous under lockdown but two amateur climbers from London have found a way to shake up their daily routine and raise money for charity. Charlie Harbord and Harry Richards have challenged each other to climb Mount Everest without leaving their home.Coronavirus (COVID-19): Your Questions Answered
Still confused about when and how to wear masks? What is hydroxycholoroquine? And can you have COVID-19 twice?
Euronews put your questions to immunologist Luke O'Neill of Trinity College Dublin and to Suerie Moon, co-director of the Global Health Centre.
If you missed it, you can watch the half-hour show here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HcqjlqlvBE
Sweden under fire: government granted new powers to curb coronavirus outbreak
There's been quite a reaction to yesterday's announcement... Per Nyberg reports from Stockholm for Good Morning Europe:
China denies 'cover-up' after Wuhan COVID-19 deaths rise 50%
More on the story we reported earlier... The Chinese government has denied any "cover-up" over official COVID-19 casualty figures after a sudden increase in the number of deaths was revealed.
China denies 'cover-up' after Wuhan COVID-19 deaths rise 50%
New figures show there have been nearly 1,300 extra deaths in Wuhan than previously reported.Quarantine Diaries: Spanish sitcom poking fun at life on lockdown proves to be a hit
Spain's new sitcom pokes fun at everyday life in confinement and how people are juggling working, cooking, parenting and staying fit whilst stuck at home.
Spanish sitcom poking fun at life on lockdown proves to be a hit
With just a mobile phone, tripod and some Skype assistance, actors in Quarantine Diaries record themselves at home.European outlook: Optimistic signs but "storm cloud" hangs over continent, says WHO
Volunteers turn recycled plastic into face shields
Over 300,000 Africans could die of COVID-19: UN report
Belgian COVID-19 deaths pass 5,000
Russia reports over 4,000 new cases, breaking daily record again
Russia has reported another surge in new coronavirus infections, official figures showing 4,070 more confirmed cases over a 24-hour period.
It takes the overall number of cases to 32,008. The total number of people killed stands at 273.
Euronews' Russian service reports that the numbers include two new cases in the Altai Republic in Western Siberia, the last region which until now has had no COVID-19 patients.
There's been suspicion over Russia's official figures, which have been lower than European countries.
China denies cover-up in COVID-19 death toll
The Chinese government has denied any "cover-up" over official casualty figures, after a sudden increase in the number of deaths was revealed (see earlier blog post).
"There's never been any cover-up and we will never authorise any cover-up," foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters on Friday.
New figures show there've been nearly 1,300 extra deaths in Wuhan, the city at the origin of the outbreak.
Western leaders have criticised China, questioning the accuracy of its statistics and transparency.
Austrian minister concerned about UK infection rate
The Austrian Health Minister on Friday told a news conference that Britain's relatively high daily coronavirus infection rate was "frightening many in Europe at the moment."
Rudolf Anschober held up a graph showing the average daily infection growth rate over the past ten days in different European countries, among which Britain stood out at 7.7%.
Germany, Switzerland and Italy all had rates of 3% or lower.
Austria has flattened its infection curve and reopened parts of the economy this week.
Should the infection rate remain low, officials have said they will open remaining stores and businesses on 1 May. On 16 April, Austria had an infection rate of 1.8%.
The Central European country has officially recorded 14,476 COVID-19 cases and 410 deaths.(AP)
Macron warns EU faces 'moment of truth' over financial solidarity - full story
The French President says the EU has "no choice" but to create a joint virus recovery fund, and share debt with countries worst hit by the pandemic.
See the blog entry below - and here is our full story:
COVID-19 is 'moment of truth' for EU, says Macron
The French President said there was "no choice" but for the bloc to set up a fund that "could issue common debt with a common guarantee"; putting himself in opposition with Berlin.German infection rate falls below key level
Latest figures from Germany show the rate of contagion has fallen below a key level for the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak began.
The statistics from the Robert Koch Institute show that each patient is now spreading the infection to less than one other person. The number of people on average contaminated by each sick person has fallen to 0.7.
This comes in a week that has seen Germany tentatively loosen its lockdown restrictions. Shops have reopened and schools will do so from May 4. But Chancellor Angela Merkel warns that progress is "fragile".
Macron and Raab criticise China over virus origins
Both the French President and the UK's stand-in leader have criticised China in separate comments about Beijing's response to the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan.
Emmanuel Macron tells the Financial Times "there were obviously things that happened that we don't know".
Britain's Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Thursday that China had some "hard questions" to answer. There would have to be a "deep dive" review of the crisis, including how the outbreak came about, he said at the daily UK government briefing.
Both men were speaking before China revised upwards the number of coronavirus casualties (see blog entry below).
Eurozone could collapse without COVID-19 solidarity, warns Macron
The French President says in an interview with the Financial Times (paywall) that the EU could unravel unless it embraces financial solidarity over the coronavirus.
Emmanuel Macron says EU member states have "no choice" but to set up a joint recovery fund. France has been pushing for a fund with common debt sharing according to countries' needs -- an idea opposed by Germany and the Netherlands.
Asked whether the eurozone could collapse if no such fund emerges, Macron agrees.
The EU faces a "moment of truth" in deciding whether it is more than just a single economic market -- otherwise the lack of solidarity will fuel populist anger in the south and kill off the EU as a political project, he argues.
On Thursday European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen offered a "heartfelt apology" to Italy on behalf of Europe, for failing to respond adequately as the coronavirus outbreak took hold. See our write-up of her speech to the European Parliament here:
EU Commission President offers 'heartfelt apology' to Italy, as MEPs debate coronavirus response
"Too many were not there on time when Italy needed a helping hand at the very beginning" von der Leyen admitted during a debate with MEPs over the EU's coronavirus response.WWII veteran's 100th birthday walk for UK health service raises... €20m!
Yesterday we reported how Captain Tom Moore had raised more than £12 million (over €14 million) for Britain's NHS by pledging to to walk 100 laps of his 25m-long garden before he reaches his 100th birthday.
Less than 24 hours later, the figure has now shot up and just hit £17.5 million (over €20 million), as of 08.30 CET on Friday, according to the Just Giving website.
Read our write-up here (looks like we'll have to work hard to keep up with the tally!):
WWII Veteran aged 99 raises over €14 million (£12 million) for NHS
Captain Thomas Moore is raising money for frontline healthcare workers in the UK by walking a 100 laps around his garden before his 100th Birthday. He has already smashed his target of a £1,000 and raised over £12 million.China's economy shrinks for first time in decades
China reported on Friday that its first quarter GDP tumbled by 6.8% in 2020 compared to a year ago, as the world's second-largest economy reeled from the COVID-19 outbreak.
Some reports say it's the country's worst result since the Maoist era. Officially, the Chinese economy had suffered no contraction since 1976.
Analysts frequently cast doubt on China's official figures. One group surveyed by AFP had forecast a sharper drop of 8.2%.
In the last quarter of 2019, China's economy was 6% up on the year.
Although health conditions have improved, millions of Chinese people continue to limit their movements for fear of contracting the coronavirus.
Read more:
COVID-19: China's economy contracts by 6.8%
euronewsThe GDP reading was stronger than some forecasts that called for a contraction of up to 16% but China's worst performance since before market-style economic reforms started in 1979.Bulgaria shuts off Sofia for Orthodox Easter
Bulgaria has forbidden residents of Sofia from leaving the capital over the Orthodox Easter weekend, due to a rise in the number of coronavirus cases in the country -- one of the least affected in Europe.
"From midnight (on Thursday), we are banning all entry and exit from Sofia for all vehicles carrying passengers," health minister Kiril Ananiev told a news conference.
Exceptions are being made for ambulances, lorries carrying goods -- and workers on condition that they can justify their journey, and only at certain times.
The move follows a sudden exodus by people from Sofia on Wednesday and Thursday, heading for the countryside ahead of the Orthodox Easter weekend.
The interior minister said more than 5,000 people had been turned back for breaching the rules of the lockdown, brought in on March 13.
Bulgaria has reported 800 confirmed coronavirus cases and 38 deaths.
Wuhan raises number of COVID-19 deaths by 50%
The Chinese city at the origin of the coronavirus outbreak has sharply raised its number of COVID-19 fatalities by 1,290 to make a new total of 3,869 -- the highest in China. The official death toll nationwide is now 4,632.
Total cases in the city of 11 million were revised upwards by 325 to 50,333 -- amounting to about two-thirds of the country's total of 82,367.
An official communique says the new figures are explained by the number of people who died at home, and didn't show up at first in official reports.
The accuracy of China's reporting of its coronavirus casualty figures has long been called into question.Officials have been accused of trying to minimise the impact of the outbreak.
Donald Trump gives US state governors options on how to reopen economy
More on the new guidelines issued by the US President, noteworthy for their cautious approach -- in stark contrast to recent statements he's made calling for things to get back to normal far more quickly. Here's AP's report:
Donald Trump gives US state governors options on how to reopen economy
The new guidelines are aimed at easing restrictions in areas with low transmission of the coronavirus, while holding the line in harder-hit locations.Good morning, this is Alasdair Sandford with live updates on the coronavirus pandemic in Europe and beyond.