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Polish police step up road patrols over Easter

03.04.2021 08:10
Polish police are stepping up road patrols over the Easter period, even though officials have urged people not to travel amid a surging COVID-19 epidemic.
Image: Free-PhotosPixabay
Image: Free-Photos/Pixabay Pixabay licence

Officers are expected to be out in force at roads leading out of big cities and on the country's busiest routes. They will be checking whether drivers are sober and sticking to the speed limit.

They will also be keeping an eye on whether children are being transported in accordance with safety rules, and scanning cars to check if they are roadworthy, public broadcaster Polish Radio reported.

Robert Opas from the road traffic department at Polish police headquarters said drivers should remember to take a face mask with them when setting out, though there is no obligation to wear such face coverings while travelling by car with immediate family members.

However, drivers are required to wear a mask when getting out of their vehicle for a break, at a petrol station and during roadside checks by police.

Stepped-up patrols will be out on Polish roads until the end of Easter Monday.

Easter is usually when Poles spend time with their extended families and travel extensively to visit their relatives.

Amid the spread of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has called on people to stay at home and spend the Easter break only with their immediate family.

Poland on Friday reported 30,546 new coronavirus infections and 497 more deaths, bringing its total number of cases during the pandemic to 2,387,511 and fatalities to 54,165.

(pk)

Source: IAR