Coronavirus cases in Spain have risen by 1,500

Spain

Coronavirus cases in Spain have risen by 1,500, public health officials say.

Spain is the worst affected country in Europe after Italy, which has more than 15,000 cases.

The news comes as the Spanish government meets to declare a national state of emergency, for only the second time in its recent history.

On Friday the World Health Organization (WHO) said Europe was now the "epicentre" of the pandemic.

Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged countries to use aggressive measures, community mobilisation and social distancing to save lives.

Several European countries have reported steep rises in infections and deaths in recent days.