EU Commission President von der Leyen has warned EU states against disproportionate crisis measures. With its approval of an emergency law, Hungary's parliament had previously given Prime Minister Orbán power to govern by decree for an unlimited time. Europe's press is worried that the model could set a precedent and demands swift action from Brussels.
Throughout Europe countries are running out of protective face masks, most of which are produced in China. Germany imposed an export ban at the beginning of March and now the Czech Republic has followed suit. In France all stocks were confiscated so they could be distributed to health workers. Commentators discuss ways to deal with the shortages.
Most of the European countries that already have lockdown restrictions in place due to the Covid-19 pandemic have extended them until Easter or shortly thereafter. However experts and many commentators expect the more or less strict lockdowns to continue beyond that point - and are looking at how to tackle this challenging situation.
The virus also seems to have brought the European project to a standstill: member states are closing their borders, restricting their citizens' freedoms and implementing their own national policies - in part also because the EU's powers regarding health issues are very limited. Commentators fear this could have a lasting impact on cohesion within the bloc.
A week's holiday on full pay for the entire country, subsidies for businesses and the socially disadvantaged, and the postponement of the constitutional referendum scheduled for April 22: these measures to curb Covid-19 were announced by the Russian president in a televised address on March 25. Since then Putin has not appeared in public. The press wants to know why.
The crisis law passed on the weekend by Poland's ruling PiS party also affects the elections in May: all citizens over 60 may now also vote by absentee ballot. Critics say that with this measure the PiS is aiming to secure its election victory, since the party is particularly popular with the elderly. The press also condemns the law - and calls on the opposition to take action.
The 27 EU states have postponed taking a decision on the introduction of Eurobonds as a joint instrument for tackling the economic consequences of the corona crisis. While Italy and Spain are urgently demanding "corona bonds", countries like Germany, the Netherlands and Austria oppose the idea. Commentators analyse the origins of the conflict and look for ways out of the stalemate.
Only two months have passed since the first Sars-CoV-2 infection was discovered in Europe but the virus has already caused major economic damage and brought radical changes to daily life. Governments are discussing appropriate aid packages and Eurobonds. The market cannot regulate itself in times of crisis, some argue. Others warn against protectionism or voice hopes for the creation of a whole new system.
Crisis situations - whether they affect individuals or society as a whole - always serve as opportunities to re-examine the status quo and draw conclusions for the future. The current pandemic can serve to provide insights not just regarding existential issues but also the way we live our daily lives, commentators observe.
Covid-19 is also confronting the US with a sad reality: there have now been more than 2,400 fatalities and over 140,000 confirmed cases. President Trump, who had talked of lifting containment measures such as social distancing before Easter, has now announced that they will be extended until April 30. But according to commentators the country is appallingly ill-equipped for such a crisis.