Europe signals no letup in battle

Uncompromising lockdown stance underscored even amid positive signs

European countries are acting to extend or keep lockdowns in place to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, even though some have seen encouraging signs such as a slowdown in the daily counts for new infections and deaths.

The novel coronavirus has infected nearly 900,000 people in Europe, with nearly 80,000 succumbing to the disease by Monday, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University in the United States.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced in a televised address on Monday that the country will extend its lockdown measures until May 11.

"The epidemic is starting to slow down. The results are there," he said. "Hope is reborn but nothing is settled ... The health system is under pressure and the epidemic is not yet under control.

"We must therefore continue our efforts and apply the rules."

France's current confinement measures, starting on March 17, had been due to end on Wednesday.

Macron said May 11 will mark the start of a new phase. From then, nurseries and schools will reopen gradually, though universities will remain closed, along with restaurants, cafes and hotels. All people showing symptoms will be tested.

By Monday, the virus had claimed 14,967 lives in France, with more than 98,076 infections, according to official figures.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is set to announce on Thursday that lockdown will stay in place until at least May 7, The Times newspaper reported.

The UK's total deaths in hospital linked to the virus reached 11,329 on Monday, the health ministry said.

Speaking at the government's daily news briefing, Raab said he doesn't expect any changes to be made to the lockdown this week. He said there are some positive signs that show "we are starting to win this struggle", but warned: "We are still not past the peak."

Portuguese Minister of Internal Administration Eduardo Cabrita said on Monday that the country's land borders with Spain will remain closed at least until May 15.

"In coordination with the government of Spain, we approved the extension of border controls and the limitation to nine exclusive crossing points on our land border with Spain for another month until May 15," Cabrita said.

Portugal entered a state of emergency on March 19, due to finish on Friday. The country had reported 535 deaths and 16,934 cases by Monday, according to health authorities.

Decreasing trend

Italy had reported 159,516 cases and 20,465 deaths as of Monday, said Civil Protection Department Chief Angelo Borrelli.

Of those infected, 3,260 are in intensive care, down by 83 from a day earlier. It was the 10th consecutive day that the number of patients in intensive care units had showed a decreasing trend, he said.

On Monday, in an interview with state-run RAI Radio 1 broadcaster, Transport Minister Paola De Micheli said the possible shift to "Phase 2" of the emergency－meaning a gradual and partial restoration of economic and social activities－would imply "a different way for people to use public transports."

"We will have to imagine a society where not everyone goes to work and back at the same time, but rather at flexible hours, and especially for public offices," De Micheli said.

However, public life in Germany may gradually return to normal if certain conditions are met, including an infection rate stabilizing at a low level, according to recommendations sent to Chancellor Angela Merkel and state governors by the National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina on Monday.

The country had reported 125,098 cases of infection and 2,969 deaths, data from the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases showed on Tuesday.

Jonathan Powell in London, Xinhua and agencies contributed to this story.