Cases fall in some parts of Europe; 813 die in Britain as infections rise
LONDON－The coronavirus pandemic is showing a mixed picture in Europe, as some countries are witnessing welcome signs while cases are still rising in the United Kingdom.
Official data in Britain on Saturday showed that 813 people died in the latest 24-hour period, taking COVID-19 deaths to 20,319.Infections rose to 148,377 as of Saturday morning.
British Home Secretary Priti Patel said on Saturday that it was imperative that people continue to follow the rules designed to protect their loved ones. She did not say when the current restrictions on movement would be lifted.
Eight mobile coronavirus testing units staffed by the army are starting to travel around the UK, with dozens more to follow, to help the government approach its target of 100,000 tests a day.
The recuperated British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will be back at work on Monday, a Downing Street spokeswoman said on Saturday.
Spaniards will be allowed out for exercise and to take walks from this weekend, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said.
"If the pandemic keeps evolving positively as it has been doing until now, from May 2, individual physical activity will be permitted and walks with the people you live with."
Children have been allowed out since Sunday for up to an hour a day, accompanied by one parent, to walk, run or play in an area no further than a kilometer from their home.
In Italy, Extraordinary Commissioner for the Coronavirus Emergency Domenico Arcuri said winning the war against the coronavirus will depend on individual decisions once the national lockdown ends on May 3.
He called on people to behave "with determination, a spirit of sacrifice and a sense of belonging to the national community".
Blood testing
Arcuri said blood testing for antibodies to the coronavirus－to find out what percentage, if any, of the population has unknowingly come in contact with the virus at some point－will begin on May 4.
Italy had a total of 195,351 cases as of Saturday.
In France, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe will present to the parliament on Tuesday the government's plan on gradually lifting the country's lockdown, his office said on Saturday.
The country reported 369 new deaths on Saturday, lower than previous days. Hospital admissions also fell by 436 to 28,222.
The French government is set to unwind its two-month confinement on May 11. Schools will be reopened in stages, with much smaller classes and on a voluntary basis. Retail activities will resume with strict rules to limit the number of people in shops at the same time.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, authorities in the country's two entities, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska, announced the relaxation of restrictions.
The government of FBiH called off a curfew on Friday, along with a ban on the movement of people under 18 and over 65. Officials in Republika Srpska announced on the same day that shops, trades and services would be allowed to reopen on Monday.
Xinhua - Agencies
