New lows for deaths in France, Spain and Italy
France, Italy and Spain have registered the cheapest daily death tolls for weeks because they prepare to ease restrictions.
France reported 135 deaths; Spain's 164 were the cheapest since mid-March; and Italy's 174 was a two-month low.
Meanwhile French doctor has claimed new tests on samples from patients show the virus was present in the country last year - weeks prior to the first officially recorded case.
In Russia the virus appears to be advancing, with 10,000 new infections.
But Russia's mortality rate remains low relative to other countries. On Sunday it recorded 58 deaths, taking its total to 1 1,280.
THE UNITED KINGDOM recorded 315 new deaths and gets the third-highest number of deaths behind the united states and Italy. However British officials say the outbreak has peaked and the amount of new hospital admissions is declining.
Globally the pandemic has seen nearly 3.5 million persons infected and almost 250,000 persons have died.
Was the virus in France this past year?
The quantity of new recorded deaths is the lowest since late March, when only deaths in hospitals were being recorded. The new figures include deaths in care homes and also have been declining for many days.
Meanwhile a rigorous care chief in the Paris region has told local media that the virus was within France on 27 December - per month before the first cases were confirmed.
Yves Cohen told BFMTV that his team had revisited negative tests for flu and other coronaviruses on 24 patients who was simply in hospital with respiratory symptoms in December and January.
"Of the 24 patients, we'd one positive result for Covid-19 on 27 December when he was in hospital around," he said, adding that the test have been repeated several times to verify the result.
Dr Cohen said he previously reported the case to the regional health authorities and needed other negative tests from the same period to be retested.
France is likely to lift its lockdown on 11 May, when children will go back to school in phases, some businesses will reopen and persons can travel within 100 kilometres (60 miles) of their homes with no need for a document giving grounds for their movement.
However on Sunday Health Minister Olivier Veran said this might be based upon further falls in the number of new infections, particularly in the worst-affected areas like the Paris region and northeast France.
France also clarified that a rule requiring anyone entering the country to get into isolation for 14 days did not connect with persons arriving from EU countries, the Schengen area or the UK.
What's happening in Spain?
Spain's death toll of 164 was the cheapest for a month-and-a-half and was greater than a hundred down on Saturday's figure.
On Saturday adults could actually exercise outdoors on Saturday for the very first time in seven weeks. The lockdown was eased for children under 14 a week ago.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Spain was reaping the rewards of the sacrifices made through the lockdown, one of Europe's strictest.
On Monday masks can be compulsory on public transport plus some small businesses such as hairdressers will open for individual customer appointments.
How about in Italy?
Italy registered the cheapest daily number of coronavirus-related deaths since soon after its lockdown started two months ago. Both the amounts of new infections and patients in intensive care have continued to fall.
The country is relaxing its lockdown from Monday, when Italians can exercise so long as they respect rules on maintaining physical distance. They'll also have the ability to visit relatives - however, not friends - of their region.
However schools, cinemas & most shops will remain shut. Bars and restaurants are due to get started on allowing customers to sit at tables in June.
Italy's death toll stands at 28,884 - second only to the US where more than 68,000 persons have died.
The UK's death toll is 28,446 while in Spain and France 25,100 persons and 24,729 people respectively have died.
THE UNITED KINGDOM government is likely to announce another steps in its response to the pandemic next Sunday.
