European nations call for sticking to restriction measures

BRUSSELS -- Lots of European countries on Saturday urged the public to stick to restriction measures during the Easter holiday as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson continued his coronavirus recovery in hospital.

Consecutive drops

Spain and France, which are among the hardest-hit European countries, embraced some signs of hope on Saturday in their fight against the coronavirus.

The number of deaths in a 24-hour period from COVID-19 fell for the third consecutive day in Spain, according to data collected by the country's Ministry of Health, Consumer Affairs and Social Welfare by 21:00 hours on Friday and made public on Saturday.

The total number of people who have succumbed to the virus-caused disease in Spain rose by 510 to 16,353, fewer than the 605 new deaths in the previous 24-hour period and the 683 confirmed on Thursday. It was the fewest daily number of COVID-19 deaths since March 23.

However, the data should be treated with caution due to the fact that Thursday and Friday were public holidays, which could have led to delay in reporting data. Spain's tally of infections stood at 161,852 by Saturday.

In neighboring France, 2,044 patients were hospitalized in the last 24 hours, bringing the country's total hospitalized COVID-19 patients to 31,320, including 6,883 in intensive care units (ICUs).

The number of patients in ICUs was down by 121 on a daily basis, a third-day consecutive decline.

"It is another very slight decrease in the need of (intensive care) place," which will "relieve our caregivers, especially in intensive care," said Director General of Health Jerome Salomon.

Across the English Channel, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is making "very good progress" as he continues his coronavirus recovery in hospital, Downing Street said Saturday.

Johnson was moved to a general ward on Thursday evening after spending three days in intensive care. He was taken to the hospital on Sunday, 10 days after testing positive for the virus.

The death toll of those hospitalized in Britain who tested positive for the novel coronavirus has reached 9,875 as of Friday afternoon.