The pan-European STOXX 600 index fell 0.3pc by 0803 GMT, with the travel and leisure sector the biggest decliner.
While Chinese businesses resumed work after an extended holiday, with authorities lifting some virus-related restrictions, a spike in the death toll to more than 900 kept overall sentiment jittery.
The STOXX 600 had marked its best week in three months on strength in bank shares after a swathe of strong fourth-quarter earnings.
Stocks in Germany, Europe's largest economy, fell 0.2pc on weakness in resource-related stocks.