"The worst is yet ahead of us," WHO chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned as some countries prepared to ease lockdown measures.
World Health Organization chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned on Monday the "worst is yet ahead of us" in the coronavirus outbreak.
"Let’s prevent this tragedy. It’s a virus that many people still don’t understand," he said.
The warning comes as some countries in Europe are set to ease lockdown measures this week, while others, such as the UK, continue in lockdown, with no plan made public for the easing of restrictions.
Europe’s worst-affected countries, France, Spain and Italy, which have all seen more than 20,000 people die as a result of COVID-19, are registering falling numbers of sick and dead after weeks of rising numbers.
Italy for the first time on Monday recorded fewer current coronavirus cases: 108,237 which is twenty fewer than the day before.
France had fewer hospitalisations but saw their death toll rise to above 20,000 as the director general of health warned that the epidemic was "very deadly" despite some hopeful progress.
The Netherlands recorded just 75 new cases of the virus after having more than 600 in a day earlier this month.
Follow our live blog below for the latest updates.
UK House of Commons returns from recess with plans for virtual proceedings
The UK House of Commons will return from recess tomorrow with plans for virtual proceedings.
For the first time, up to 120 members of parliament will be able to quiz ministers virtually via video conference.
MPs will have to approve the measures when they return from Easter recess, the House of Commons said.
“By initiating a hybrid solution, with steps towards an entirely virtual Parliament, we are enabling Members to stay close to their communities, while continuing their important work scrutinising the Government,” Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said.
Oil prices plunge below zero as demand falls
Oil prices plunged below zero on Monday as demand collapses amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The S&P 500 was also down 0.9% but the market’s most dramatic action was by far in oil, where benchmark U.S. crude for May delivery plummeted to negative $3.70 per barrel, as of 2:15 pm. Eastern time, AP reports.
Four day curfew in 31 Turkish provinces, Erdogan announces
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced a four-day curfew in 31 provinces to stem the spread of the coronavirus, AP reports.
The curfew will take effect on April 23 and end on April 26.
“The aim is to reduce the spread of the outbreak in a way that will make a return to normal after the Ramadan holiday possible,” Erdogan said in reference to the end of May.
France records more than 20,000 deaths
France has recorded 20,265 deaths since the beginning of the epidemic, an increase of 547 deaths in 24 hours, the health ministry said.
There has been a slight decrease in hospitalisations and people in intensive care units.
"Despite the efforts of French people to strictly respect the lockdown measures, physical and social distancing, and [have respiratory practices], this epidemic is very deadly," said director general of health Jérôme Salomon.
He also estimated that a large proportion of the French population had not been infected by the virus.
"More than 90% of the French population has not been in contact with this virus," Salomon said. "Collective immunity in France is low."
Coronavirus cases fall in Italy
The number of COVID-19 patients fell for the first time in Italy to 108,237, twenty fewer than the day before.
A total of 181,228 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Italy since the beginning of the epidemic with more than 24,000 deaths, the country's Civil Protection Authority announced on Monday.
There were 454 additional deaths in 24 hours.
Nearly 75% of the people who have tested positive are in home isolation with few or mild symptoms.
There are 2,573 patients in intensive care, a decrease of 62 patients since yesterday and 24,906 people hospitalised, a decrease of 127 people since yesterday.
Early antibody studies show a smaller proportion of public is infected, WHO says
A lower proportion of people, it appears, are infected with coronavirus, so there's a proportion of the public that is still susceptible, said Dr Maria Kerkhove at the World Health Organisation during their daily press briefing.
This is due to preliminary data from antibody tests. Despite flaws in the tests, she warned that it was looking like fewer people were infected than some previously thought.
Dr Kerkhove said lifting lockdown measures too quickly could lead to a resurgence of cases, especially if the population is vulnerable to the virus.
Rishi Sunak said the government has been "guided by the scientific advice" and made "the right decision at the right time" on maintaining a March football match in Liverpool.
He admitted that it was an "unprecedented situation" and later added: "There is light at the end of the tunnel but we're not there yet."
People have to make decisions on whether they are in a risky situation, but it is difficult to legislate on all of that from a distance, she says.
The guidance is very clear on what is safe to do and what is not.
Prof Doyle says she understands anxieties from frontline workers, and stresses that there is advice for "exceptional" circumstances where they may not have correct access to PPE.
'We're improving our sourcing internationally and domestically for PPE'
In response to a question about the shortage of critical personal protective supplies, Sunak said the UK is working to improve its "sourcing internationally and domestically".
He notes is a "very challenging international context".
Prof Doyle acknowledged the shortage "is a concern", but assured millions of pieces of equipment were delivered around the country over the weekend.
These are being handed out to those who need it most.
The conference has now opened to questions from journalists...
Prof Doyle says data of new infections shows UK is "stable". This is also the same for hospital admissions.
But for London, she says, the number of hospital admissions has now dropped for the seventh day in a row.
Public Health England's Professor Yvonne Doyle is now speaking...
Sunak says there are "encouraging signs" that the UK is making good progress with social distancing measures.
He references - as has been referenced in previous press conferences - the five things that would need to be reached in order to begin thinking about easing lockdown measures.
You can continue to follow the press conference on Euronews here.
4,676 more people have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 124,743.
A further 449 people have died, bringing the total to 16,509 deaths.
As we look ahead to recovery, it is not just about propping up business, but to nurture new and growing ones.
He said he was launching a Future Fund in May to allow new companies get the investments they need to grow. This will match funds from private investors, he said.
A further £750 million of grant and loan funding will be made available for "highly innovative firms" and help them grow amid recovery from the pandemic.
He said the goal of the new schemes would be to "maintain as many people in their existing jobs", to keep businesses open, and help those who are self-employed.
Turning to furlough scheme opening today, Sunak said the government had delivered on its promise.
Over 140,000 companies had applied for the scheme by 4pm today, he said, adding that this would cover the wages of more than a million people.
Sunak starts by referring to the PPE shortage currently facing the UK. He says the government is "working hard" to receive the vital equipment and continues to import shipments "regularly" all over.
Referring to the shipment due in from Turkey that has been delayed, Sunak said government was "working to resolve" the issue.
A shipment has arrived from Myanmar today, he added.
Watch the press conference here:
The UK press conference will be led today by Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak.
It comes on the same day that Sunak's furlough scheme to look after businesses and employees out of work came into effect.
We will be turning shortly to the UK's daily press conference on coronavirus from Downing Street...
WHO has worked with other organisations to validated five tests for active cases of coronavirus, which can be manufactured en masse.
It has now placed orders for 30 million tests over the next four months.
Vital shipments of personal protective equipment have also been sent out to countries in need of it.
Accelerated development of antibody testing is a welcomed move, says Dr Adhanom, adding that it helps work out the extent of spread of coronavirus.
He says early data suggests a "relatively small" percentage of the population has contracted the virus, even in heavily populated areas.
Lockdowns 'take the heat out' of an epidemic, but they don't end it
Dr Adhanom then turned to countries - many of which are in Europe - that have now begun to ease strict lockdown measures after passing their individual peaks of the virus.
He stressed that easing restrictions did not signal the end to a virus epidemic in a country.
"Ending the epidemic will require a sustained effort on the part of individuals, communities and governments to continue suppressing and controlling the virus," he said.
"So-called lockdowns can help to take the heat out of a country’s epidemic, but they cannot end it alone.
"Countries must now ensure they can detect, test, isolate and care for every case, and trace every contact"
The One World event has raised $127 million (€116 million) to support organisations working to fight COVID-19
WHO director Tedros Adhanom starts with saying thanks to artists who took part in Saturday's One World event, and pays special tribute to Global Citizen and Lady Gaga for co-organising with the organisation.
Watch the World Health Organisation's daily press conference here:
Canada, Mexico, US extend border closures for 30 days
Acting US Secretary of State Chad Wolf announced on Monday that all non-essential travel between US, Mexico and Canada will remain restricted for a further 30 days.
The travel restrictions were first imposed on March 21.
EU launches COVID-19 data platform
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday announced the launch of the "EU COVID-19 data platform".
"No researcher, lab or country could find a solution alone. And this is why we want to help scientists to access data and share with the others across borders, disciplines and healthcare systems," she said in a video posted on Twitter.
"Within a few days, we expect thousands of DNA sequences to be uploaded and tens of thousands of research articles.
"Together, we will find ways to defeat this virus," she added.
UK PM warns lifting lockdown too soon would damage health and economy
A spokesman for Boris Johnson told reporters on Monday that the Prime Minister's "biggest concern is a second peak".
He added that lifting confinement measures too soon "will do the most damage to health and the most damage to the economy".
"If you move too quickly then the virus could begin to spread exponentially again," he said.
New Zealand to ease strict lockdown
New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced the country will remain in a strict lockdown for another week before easing the rules a little to allow some parts of the economy to reopen.
New Zealand has been in the lockdown for nearly four weeks, with non-essential workers only allowed to leave the house to buy food or to exercise. Starting next week, workers at some businesses such as construction and manufacturing will be able to resume their jobs, and some schools reopen, although parents will be encouraged to continue having their children learn from home.
UK government under fire for failing to provide adequate PPE
The head of the NHS Confederation, which represents organisations across healthcare in the UK, has slammed the UK government’s failure to provide health care staff with adequate protective clothing. British medical personnel have complained for weeks about a lack of necessary equipment, forcing them to put their own health at risk while treating COVID-19 patients.
Responding to a delay in the delivery of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from Turkey, Niall Dickson said: "This is very serious and makes a difficult situation worse....It now looks more likely that supplies of fluid repellent gowns could run out in some places but everything that can be done will be done to protect patients and staff. We understand there are other potential sources of supply but to be clear nothing is guaranteed. We accept that this is difficult for everyone, but we now need action not words.
"There was already a loss of confidence and real anxiety across the NHS and care system around PPE supply – this will have been further eroded by what has happened this weekend,” he added.
Fresh advice has been issued to doctors on using - or reusing - gowns until the supply is replenished. Arguing that such vital equipment is in high demand globally, Britain's government has been promising to get supplies moving. Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden told the BBC he's hopeful “that later today that flight will take off and we will get those gowns.”
Outbreak of coronavirus at youth hostel in Portugal
More than 100 refugees at a youth hostel in Lisbon have been infected with coronavirus and placed in quarantine, the city hall has said.
Out of a total of some 180 tenants at the building in the Portuguese capital, 138 tested positive. They have been relocated and placed in quarantine, a spokeswoman for the municipality told AFP. The hostel where they were staying was evacuated on Sunday after a suspicious case was reported of a man who had been hospitalised, the deputy mayor of Lisbon in charge of civil protection, Carlos Costa, told reporters.
Portugal has decided to grant all immigrants awaiting regularisation and asylum seekers the same rights as residents, including access to medical care, for the duration of the state of emergency decreed in order to curb the coronavirus pandemic.
Spain's GDP to contract between 6.6% and 13.6%: Bank of Spain
The Spanish central bank said on Monday that it expects Gross Domestic Product to contact by as much as 13.6% in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The International Monetary Fund forecast last week that growth is Europe's fourth)largest economy would shrink to -8% this year.
Spain records lowest daily death toll in four weeks
Spanish authorities have announced that 399 deaths from COVID-19 had been recorded over the past 24 hours, down from 410 registered on the previous day.
It is the country's lowest daily death toll in four weeks, the Health Ministry has said.
In total, 20,852 people have lost their lives to the virus in Spain and the country has also recorded more than 200,000 confirmed cases after a one-day rise of 4,266.
Euronews spoke to Dr Timo Ulrichs, a microbiologist and infection epidemiologist at Akkon University for Human Sciences, who said that Germany "had more time to get prepared" than other nations that have been harder hit, such as Italy. He said the country was able to trace the spread of the virus and establish testing facilities. Watch the full interview here.
Tony Blair: Get ready for a "new normal"
The "normal" that we return to following the coronavirus outbreak witll be "a new normal", former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has said, adding he is "terrified" of the long term economic and social damage that could be left.
In a post on his Tony Blair Institute for Global Change website, he writes that the UK was slow in its suppression stage, in comparison to others, and so must be ready for the "managed revival of the economy".
He then sets out ten of the "most obvious" tasks that should have a proper "command and control" structure, including PPE, mass testing, and vaccines.
The French Economic Observatory (OFCE) says the country’s lockdown will result in a €120 billion loss for the economy.
The publicly funded research body said GDP over the lockdown period, which is currently set to last for eight weeks in total, will be reduced by 32% - corresponding to 5% GDP drop over the year.
"Nearly 60% of the fall in national income is absorbed by the general government" through the increase in the deficit, while "35% is accounted for by companies, which raises the question of the rebound after the containment episode", a study from the organisation stated.
Antibody testing ramped up
New York’s governor has announced plans to test people throughout the state for COVID-19 antibodies.
Andrew Cuomo said on Sunday: “We are going to sample people in this state, thousands of people in this state, across the state to find out if they have the antibodies. That will tell us, for the first time, what percent of the population actually has had the coronavirus and is now at least short-term immune to the virus.”
New York has been the epicentre of the US outbreak.
Meanwhile over the weekend Germany started carrying out Europe’s first large-scale antibody testing. The research will involve blood donations in four regions of the country where there've been large outbreaks of the virus, as well as a representative study of the broader population.
Antibodies in the blood are an indication that someone has had the virus. The theory is that those people will have at least some level of immunity, although there is no guarantee of full immunity or how long it would last.
Russia has announced its coronavirus figures for the last 24 hour period. The country reported 4,268 new cases, and 44 new deaths, taking the totals to 47,121 and 405 respectively.
Germany sees another 110 deaths
Europe's biggest economy saw 110 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to its federal agency for disease control.
The country is taking first cautious steps towards reopening today, with small shops opening up for business. The government has urged everybody to wear a face mask if going out.
The verbal sparring between US President Donald Trump and state leaders ratcheted up a notch over the weekend as Trump increased pressure to lift confinement measures.
Washington state's Democratic governor, Jay Inslee, accused Trump of encouraging insubordination and illegal activity by goading protesters who flouted shelter-in-place rules.
Protesters worrying about their livelihoods and bucking infringements on their freedom took to the streets in some places.
At least 20 employees at Afghanistan’s presidential palace have tested positive for COVID-19, according to a senior government official who asked to remain anonymous because he was not authorized to comment on the subject.
It wasn’t clear whether President Ashraf Ghani had been in contact with any of the employees or whether he had been tested himself. The presidential palace has refused to comment.
Ghani has reportedly been self-isolating, although he still meets daily with some senior officials. At 70 and a cancer survivor, Ghani is considered in the higher risk category.
Japanese expert 'pessimistic' about Olympics dates
A Japanese infectious disease specialist has said he is “very pessimistic” about the possibility of the Tokyo Olympics being held in July 2021.
The games were postponed for a year due to the coronavirus outbreak, but Kentaro Iwata from the University of Kobe, who has been critical of authorities’ management of the crisis, told an online press conference: "Japan might be able to control it by next summer, and I hope so, but I don't think it will be possible to control it everywhere in the world, so I am very pessimistic about holding the Olympic Games in the summer of 2021."
Despite the continuing uncertainties, the organisers of the Olympic Games say they have embarked on this huge undertaking with the aim of meeting the new dates.
There is "no plan B", the spokesman for the Tokyo Olympics organising committee, Masa Takaya, told the press last week.
Good morning, I'm Luke Hurst and I'll be keeping you up to date on the latest developments on the coronavirus outbreak throughout the day.
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