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Polish PM gets all-clear after contact with infected officer

13.10.2020 23:45
A test has shown that Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki does not have the coronavirus, despite coming into contact with a security officer infected with COVID-19, officials have said.
PM Mateusz Morawiecki.
PM Mateusz Morawiecki. Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka

Government spokesman Piotr Müller said on Tuesday evening that Morawiecki "remains in quarantine pending appropriate, further decisions by a doctor and sanitary services."

Morawiecki said earlier in the day that he had gone into quarantine, adding that the government was “working normally.”

He wrote on Facebook: “This was not an easy day for me, because my daily duties were suddenly interrupted by the news that I had to go into quarantine. I would like to thank you very much for your concern and for the many messages wishing me health."

Poland on Tuesday reported 5,068 new coronavirus infections, its second-highest daily surge so far, and 63 additional deaths, bringing its total number of cases to 135,278 and fatalities to 3,101.

On Saturday, October 10, Poland reported 53 deaths and a record 5,300 new cases, the most since the pandemic hit the country in early March.

Tougher rules

Amid a spike in coronavirus cases, strict new rules came into effect in Poland at the weekend under which everyone is required to wear a face covering when going out in public.

The regulations kicked in after officials last week announced a stepped-up battle against the coronavirus epidemic following a surge in both COVID-19 infections and deaths.

Polish Health Minister Adam Niedzielski earlier this month announced “zero tolerance” toward people who flout sanitary rules, warning that offenders would be "severely punished."

A senior official said on Monday that Poland was not ruling out introducing a state of emergency if the COVID-19 crisis worsened dramatically in the future.

With 70 COVID-19 deaths per million population, Poland remains far less affected by the coronavirus epidemic than many other countries in Europe, recent statistics have shown.

(pk)

Source: PAP/IAR