TOP HEADLINES

• IMF chief has warned of recession worse than the global financial crisis a decade ago.

• Germany accused the US of diverting thousands of face masks that Berlin had already paid for.

• The UK will not be able to relax the lockdown until the end of May, a government adviser warned.

• France said UN Security Council considers meeting to discuss outbreak in conflict zones.

• Italy has called Russian criticism "inappropriate" after Moscow reacted to an Italian newspaper report over imported medical equipment.

• Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban slammed EU officials for criticizing new powers given to him to fight pandemic.

• The European Commission temporarily suspended taxes and duties on imported medical equipment from outside the bloc.

• Denmark expected to unveil plans to relax the lockdown this weekend to avoid recession.

• Two French doctors have been accused of racism for suggesting that trials for a tuberculosis vaccine for COVID-19 should be carried out in Africa.

Jemima Walker in London

In the UK, there are fears that a weekend of warm weather will tempt people to break lockdown rules. The government says 'stay at home' is an instruction, not a request. Cabinet Minister Michael Gove, in a daily briefing, revealed that 4,313 people died, the figure up by 708 in the last 24 hours. He added that new ventilators are being sourced from around the world, including China. The minister thanked Beijing for its support.

Julia Lyubova in Switzerland

The Swiss authorities said it would be premature to relax restrictive measures. With warm spring weather forecast over the Easter weekend, officials are urging people not to go on holiday or camping. However, preparations for an eventual transition away from restrictions has begun.

Round-up by Rahul Pathak

Spain

The health minister has hinted that authorities may make the wearing of face masks compulsory. Meanwhile, prime minister Pedro Sanchez is talking with leaders of opposition parties this weekend to get support for his lockdown extension. The current state of emergency might be prolonged until 26 April.

France

The government announced the highest daily death so far on Friday with 588 new fatalities. There was also a huge spike in numbers of total deaths to more than 6,500 after authorities included those who had died in care homes. 

Germany

Disease control chief Lothar Wieler says social distancing is working in his country but there is still a shortfall in the medical equipment needed to help fight the virus. On Friday, Germany moved ahead of China in terms of confirmed cases: it is now the fourth most affected country in the world.

Italy

There are growing fears that the death toll, already the world's highest, could be even higher. The country has recorded over 14,000 deaths but Matteo Villa, a researcher from the Italian Institute for Political Studies, says that figure could be more than 6,000 higher.

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CGTN Europe has been providing in-depth coverage of the novel coronavirus story as it has unfolded. Here you can read the essential information about the crisis.