Restaurants in Copenhagen, Denmark, close due to Covid-19 (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

Denmark, one of the first countries in Europe to shut down, plans to reopen day care centers and schools on April 15 as a first step to gradually relaxing a three-week lockdown.

Norway's Prime Minister Erna Solberg on Tuesday announced plans to reopen kindergartens on April 20. But working from home will continue and Norwegians must expect measures against contamination to continue "for a long time", Solberg said.

Sweden’s government is drawing up new legislation that will allow it to take “extraordinary steps” to combat Covid-19. The legislation needs to be passed by parliament before it will take effect.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is urging countries not to lift coronavirus measures too early. Ending measures too early could allow the disease to surge again, said WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier during a virtual briefing on Tuesday.