Speaking in parliament, Mateusz Morawiecki said his country was “to a large extent, still at the beginning of the fight” against the coronavirus.
“We expect that the peak of infections is still ahead of us—sometime in May or June,” he added.
Morawiecki also said: “We want to limit the number of cases, and in particular flatten the incidence curve, by then.”
A total of 4,201 people have tested positive for the COVID-19 disease in Poland, with 98 deaths from the coronavirus so far, public health authorities said on Monday morning.
Morawiecki told lower-house lawmakers that a sense of “enormous discipline” was needed among the public “on an ongoing basis at this stage of the spread of the coronavirus.”
He voiced hope that Poland would be able to cope with the pandemic “better than many other countries."
But for this to happen, citizens need to remain in lockdown and self-isolation, Morawiecki cautioned.
The first COVID-19 infection was confirmed by Polish authorities on March 4, while the country's first coronavirus fatality was announced on March 12.
Poland has declared a "state of epidemic" and temporarily closed its borders to non-residents in a move to curb the spread of the illness.
International scheduled flights and passenger rail connections were suspended on March 15. The government then began chartering special flights to help Poles abroad return home.
In another move to contain the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic, the government has limited the operations of shopping malls and closed all pubs, clubs and entertainment venues.
Public gatherings of more than two people have been banned.
Health and government officials have urged Poles to stay home and practice social distancing.
An initial two-week closure of the country’s schools has been extended until Easter.
The government last week announced tough new restrictions on daily life, banning children under 18 from leaving home unless supervised by an adult, closing parks and beaches, and ordering most hotels to shut.
Officials have urged Poles to spend the upcoming Easter holidays at home and scrap any travel plans amid the COVID-19 epidemic.
(gs/pk)
Source: PAP, TVP Info