Europe

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Germans have been largely compliant with rules to prevent the spread of coronavirus, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Saturday, as confirmed cases in the country continued to rise and her chief of staff said the shutdown would not be eased before April 20.

ROME, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The cumulative number of coronavirus cases in Italy reached 86,498 on Friday, exceeding the total figure registered in China, according to data by the Civil Protection Department coordinating the national emergency response.

The pandemic also claimed 969 lives, a new single-day record high in fatalities registered here since the outbreak hit the country's northern regions on Feb. 21.

BELGRADE, March 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Three people have been given hefty prison sentences of up to three years in Serbia for breaking self-isolation rules imposed in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Serbia has declared a state of emergency and adopted strict measures in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, which has seen 530 people infected and eight die in the Balkan nation.

BUDAPEST, March 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Hungary is imposing a two-week lockdown to slow the spread of the coronavirus epidemic, which is expected to peak in the country in June or July, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said.

Citizens will be allowed to go to work, shop and take limited exercise outside during the lockdown, which starts on Saturday, but should keep distance from each other, Orban said on public radio, adding that restrictions would be enforced by police.

PARIS, March 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — As Europe and the United States struggle to contain the coronavirus pandemic, aid groups warn that without measures millions could die in low-income countries and war zones such as Syria and Yemen, where hygiene conditions are already dire.

The outbreak has infected some 580,000 people and killed over 26,000 around the world after emerging in China in December last year.

MADRID, March 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The death toll in Spain soared over 4,800 Friday after 769 people died in 24 hours, in what was a record one-day figure for fatalities in the country, the government said.

Spain has the world’s second-highest death toll after Italy, and has so far suffered 4,858 deaths, while the number of cases jumped to 64,059. Although the figures showed a daily increase of nearly 8,000 new infections, the uptick comes as Spain moves to dramatically increase its rate of testing, ordering millions of new kits from around the world.

PARIS (AP) — Health workers racing to save lives as France contends with one of the world’s worst coronavirus outbreaks have received a huge show of gratitude with the help of the Eiffel Tower.

The Paris landmark also had a message for the broader French public: Stay home.

Lights spelled out “Merci,” French for ’Thank you,” and “Stay at home” in English on Friday night along with the tower’s famous sparkling illuminations.

SEVASTOPOL, March 27. /TASS/: Three frigates of the Black Sea Fleet operating within the Russian Navy’s permanent Mediterranean taskforce repelled a notional enemy’s missile attack, firing Kalibr cruise missiles during the drills, the Fleet’s press office reported on Friday.

MOSCOW, March 27. /TASS/: Russian stocks have extended losses on Moscow Exchange on Friday following the oil price drop as the RTS index lost 5.27% to 963.41 points, while the MOEX index dropped by 3.42% to 2,404.75 points, according to the trading data as of 4:02 pm Moscow time.

The price of futures contracts of Brent crude oil is down by 3.8% compared with the previous closure at $25.34 per barrel.

The dollar exchange rate on Moscow Exchange gained 1.57% to 78.68 rubles as of 4:05 pm, while the euro exchange rate was down by 1.17% at 86.41 rubles.

ROME, March 27. /TASS/: Italy’s National Healthcare Service must provide coronavirus patients with free malaria and HIV/AIDS drugs, ANSA news agency reported Friday, citing Gazzetta Ufficiale newspaper.

The report explains that anti-malaria chloroquine-and hydroxychloroquine-based drugs, as well as anti-HIV drugs now allowed for prescription by the therapists and must be provided at the expense of the national healthcare system.

Earlier reports indicated that Italian medics began administering anti-inflammation arthritis and rheumatism drugs as experimental therapy.