Italy, Spain and France have seen a decline in daily deaths from the novel coronavirus over a 24-hours period, thanks to citizens largely respecting lockdown measures to halt the spread of the virus.

Italy has recorded its lowest daily death toll in over two weeks as well as a decline for the second day in the number of critical care patients. The toll from the world's deadliest outbreak reached 15,887 on Sunday, almost a quarter of the global death total, but the rise of 525 from a day earlier was the smallest daily increase since March 19.

The total number of confirmed cases rose by 4,316 to 128,948, the lowest increase in five days, which suggests the epidemic has been stabilized about six weeks after it broke out in northern Italy on February 21.

"The curve has reached a plateau and begun to descend," said Silvio Brusaferro, head of the Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Italy's top health institute.

However, officials have been desperate to avoid a letup, with Angelo Borelli, head of the Civil Protection department, saying at a daily briefing "don't lower our guard, stay at home."

Italy starts to look ahead to 'phase two' as COVID-19 death toll slows

Spain, which has the second highest coronavirus death toll worldwide after Italy, saw its fourth consecutive daily decline in the number of people dying from the coronavirus pandemic. It announced Monday another 637 fatalities during the previous 24 hours. The total number of deceased from the virus in Spain has risen to 13,055. 

There are now 194,000 medical staff in Spain infected with coronavirus, and 20 percent of them has recovered.

The country reported its lowest new coronavirus cases on Monday, the lowest since March 22, and the new death cases on Monday were the lowest since March 24. 

"The data from this week and today confirms the slowing down of infections," Health Minister Salvador Illa told a news conference. "The data confirms that confinement is working."

The country, like Italy, is optimistic that they are flattening the curve, but still extended the lockdown again until April 26 to help tackle the emergency.

Spain cautiously optimistic its curve is flattening

In France, health ministry data showed that 357 people died from COVID-19 in hospitals, compared with 441 in the previous 24 hours, taking the total toll in hospitals to 5,889 on Sunday.

The health ministry said admissions into ICU units also slowed during the past 24 hours with 390 people needing intensive care compared with 502 on Saturday The total number of people in ICU units was at 6,978, a 2 percent increase compared with a 2.6 percent rise in the previous 24 hours.

France decided on March 17 to confine its residents to homes to curb the spread of the virus as a daily surge of infections threatened the health system. The measures have been extended until April 15 and are likely to be extended again.

Officials urged citizens to continue respecting the strict confinement measures and keep their distances. Authorities and doctors warned people earlier on Sunday not to be tempted outside by the sunny spring weather.

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus in Europe, there have been complaints in Spain and Italy about a perceived slowness among less hard-hit EU member states to provide assistance in curbing the pandemic.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez appealed Sunday for unity among the 27 European Union countries to combat the coronavirus in an article published in a series of European newspapers.

"Solidarity is a key principle of the EU treaties. And it is shown at times like this. Without solidarity there can be no cohesion, without cohesion there will be disaffection and the credibility of the European project will be severely damaged.”

There are now more than 1.27 million confirmed COVID-19 cases around the world and there have been 69,444 deaths since the virus first broke out in China late last year. Billions of people are living under some form of lockdown. Roughly half the planet is confined at home with schools and businesses closed, at huge cost to the global economy.

(With input from agencies)