Poland to keep borders closed for foreigners until June 12

Poland will extend its strict border controls until June 12 due to the coronavirus pandemic, its Interior Ministry said on Wednesday.

Temporary border control point at the Polish-Slovak border crossing in Barwinek, south-eastern Poland, 6 May 2020.

Photo: PAP/Darek Delmanowicz

Poland closed its borders to foreigners in March to stop the spread of the coronavirus and has extended the restriction four times since then.

Polish citizens, diplomats, foreigners with the legal right to live in Poland and foreign professional drivers can enter Poland at selected checkpoints.

While keeping borders closed, Poland is easing some other curbs imposed earlier. It has reopened shopping malls, hotels, outdoor playgrounds and allowed kindergartens to restart.

The government is expected to announce on Wednesday the lifting of further restrictions on schools, restaurants and hairdressers.

Poland now has 17,062 confirmed coronavirus cases and 847 deaths. On Tuesday, the country saw its largest spike in new coronavirus cases in one day due to a rapid growth in infections among coal miners.

(Reporting by Agnieszka Barteczko; Editing by Alison Williams)

Source: Reuters