French President Emmanuel Macron speaks with pupils during a visit to the Pierre Ronsard elementary school in Poissy, west of Paris, on Tuesday. (Photo: AFP)

People in France and Spain, two of the countries hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic, were preparing Sunday for an easing of lockdown rules as the global number of infections surpassed four million. 

In the US, the country with the world's highest death toll, President Donald Trump faced sharp criticism from his predecessor Barack Obama who said on a leaked tape that Trump's handling of the crisis was an "absolute chaotic disaster." 

The virus has claimed more than 78,000 lives in the US, which has recorded more than 1.3 million infections, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. 

Worldwide, the death toll has surged past 277,000 and the number of coronavirus cases surpassed four million on Saturday. 

Lockdowns and economic disruption, meanwhile, have pushed millions into unemployment in a historic global downturn. 

Amid the barrage of deaths, some European countries cited signs of progress they said and justified taking slow steps back toward some version of normality. 

French officials on Saturday said the day's death toll of 80 was the lowest since early April. Nursing home fatalities also fell sharply as France prepared to relax curbs on public movement imposed eight weeks ago. 

French health officials warned that "the epidemic remains active and is evolving," and a state of emergency was extended to July 10. 

In Spain, about half the population will be allowed out on Monday for limited socialization, and restaurants will be able to offer some outdoor services as the country begins a phased transition set to last through June. 

Fears lingered, however, of a viral resurgence if restrictions are lifted too quickly, and authorities excluded Madrid and Barcelona, two COVID-19 hotspots, from the first-phase easing. 

Belgium is easing some restrictions on Monday, and in some parts of Germany, bars and restaurants reopened on Saturday with further easing set for Monday. 

One district in Germany's western North Rhine-Westphalia state remained locked down, however, after an outbreak at a slaughterhouse. 

Overall, the situation in Europe was still far from normal. 

Britain is reportedly planning to announce on Sunday that all overseas visitors will face a mandatory two-week quarantine, and the European Union warned against opening borders to travelers from outside the bloc. 

Across Europe, commemorations marking 75 years since Nazi Germany's surrender were canceled or scaled-down. 

In Russia, a soaring number of coronavirus infections forced Moscow on Saturday to pare back traditionally rousing World War II victory celebrations. President Vladimir Putin instead gave a solemn speech at a memorial outside the Kremlin walls, without mentioning the coronavirus. 

Russia is now the fifth hardest-hit country, with over 209,600 confirmed infections.