The health ministry said 367 more people had died of the virus.
A total of 466,679 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in Poland since the pandemic began, and 6,842 have died in connection with the COVID-19 respiratory disease so far, public health officials announced.
Meanwhile, over 177,000 people in total have recovered from COVID-19.
Of the new cases confirmed on Thursday, the most – 3,888 – were in the western province of Wielkopolskie, which is home to the major city of Poznań.
The latest deaths in Poland’s coronavirus outbreak are 298 people with pre-existing medical conditions and 69 who died directly because of COVID-19, the Polish health ministry said in a tweet.
On Wednesday, Poland reported 24,692 new coronavirus infections and 373 new deaths. Both figures were records at that point.
New restrictions
After that data was released, Poland’s prime minister announced a swathe of new restrictions aiming to curb the escalating epidemic.
Mateusz Morawiecki appealed to Poles to stay at home, for employees to work remotely, and for protesters opposed to a tightening of abortion laws not to take to the streets.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Adam Niedzielski told reporters that Poland could see 25,000 to 30,000 new coronavirus cases a day, adding that was an “optimistic scenario.”
Niedzielski warned that Poland’s health-care system was near the limit of its capacity.
Morawiecki said that from Saturday, shops in shopping malls would have to close though there would be exceptions, including grocery stores, pharmacies and drugstores.
Hotels will only be able to take in guests on business trips. Theatres, cinemas, museums and galleries will be temporarily closed.
Younger primary school children will be taught remotely, Morawiecki said. Up to now they have been attending school in person. Secondary schools and universities throughout the country have already switched to distance learning.
Spectre of ‘national quarantine’
Morawiecki warned that if the number of coronavirus infections exceeded 70 to 75 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, a “national quarantine” would be announced, with “very strict bans on travel and movement”.
Health Minister Niedzielski told reporters that “even in an optimistic scenario, we see stabilization of the number of illnesses taking place at 25,000 to 30,000 cases a day.”
The stricter new rules come into force on Saturday and will last at least three weeks. Remote classes for younger children will kick in on Monday.
(pk)
Source: IAR/PAP