Officials reported 27,086 new coronavirus infections.
The latest deaths in Poland’s coronavirus outbreak are 387 people with pre-existing medical conditions, and 58 who died directly because of COVID-19, the Polish health ministry said in a tweet.
A total of 493,765 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in Poland since the pandemic began, and 7,287 have died in connection with the COVID-19 respiratory disease so far, public health officials announced.
Of the new cases confirmed on Friday, 2,951 were reported in the central region of Mazowieckie, which contains the national capital Warsaw.
A total of 19,479 patients confirmed as having the coronavirus are being treated in hospitals, and 1,708 are on ventilators, the health ministry said on Friday.
There are 9,928 free beds for COVID-19 patients and 530 vacant ventilators across the country, it added.
On Thursday, Poland reported a record 27,143 new coronavirus infections, and 367 more deaths.
New restrictions
On Wednesday officials reported a record 373 new deaths.
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