TOP HEADLINES:
- Spanish parliament considers extending state of emergency by 15 days until 26 April.
- The EU approves a multi-billion euro support package for Greece, Poland and Portugal to soften economic impact of COVID-19.
- The UK takes delivery of 300 ventilators from China and expects more such equipment to be produced locally by private enterprises.
- Greece quarantines second camp after Afghan asylum-seeker tests positive.
- The UK's health minister Matt Hancock denies there was any disagreement with finance minister Rishi Sunak about the lockdown.
- The Swedish government seeks more powers to impose a lockdown or stronger restrictions on public life.
- A team of Ukrainian doctors arrives in Italy to provide assistance and also gain field experience.
- Hungary announces an estimated $30 billion package to help jump-start the economy in order to avoid recession.
Across Europe
Guy Henderson in Germany
The total number of coronavirus cases in Germany overtook China's this weekend. The country is the fourth most affected by the virus in the world.
The Robert Koch Institute said the closure of businesses and restrictions on movement were having a clear impact. The National Academy of Sciences said some measures could be eased after the Easter break. But Berlin's mayor Michael Mueller warned that would happen gradually in the capital at least.
Jemima Walker in UK
There are fears warm weather on Sunday could lead to people ignoring lockdown rules. Currently, people are only allowed out for one form of exercise a day, to buy essential items or to look after vulnerable people. The government has urged people to respect these rules.
On Sunday evening, Queen Elizabeth II will release a rare address to the nation. The monarch is expected to praise healthcare workers and other frontline staff, and encourage the country to rise to the challenge of the pandemic.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in a televised address will ask Britons to rally against the coronavirus challenge. /AP
Sweden
The Swedish central bank governor Stefan Ingves ruled out the risk of deflation at the present moment as the central bank pours money into the financial system.
The Riksbank has offered 500 billion Swedish crowns ($49 billion) in loans to companies in an effort to combat the fall-out of the coronavirus. It has also boosted its purchases of securities by 300 billion crowns ($29 billion) and offered $60 billion funding in dollars.
Italy
Support groups in Italy have expressed concerns after reports of domestic violence dropped sharply amid the lockdown. The country's largest violence helpline, Telefono Rosa, said calls fell 55 percent to 496 in the first two weeks of March from 1,104 in the same period last year. Other help groups said they had seen similar declines.
A parliamentary committee said that reports to police of domestic abuse dropped to 652 in the first 22 days of March, when Italy went into lockdown, from 1,157 in the same period of 2019.
Spain has been one of the worst-hit by COVID-19 in Europe. /AP
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FROM OUR GLOBAL COLLEAGUES
- New York 'finally' gets 'good news' as China donates 1,000 ventilators
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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.