A total of 319,205 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in Poland since the pandemic began, and 5,149 have died in connection with the COVID-19 respiratory disease so far, public health officials announced.
Of the new cases confirmed on Thursday, 2,633 were in the western province of Wielkopolskie, which is home to the major city of Poznań.
Meanwhile, 2,255 new infections were reported in the central region of Mazowieckie, which contains the national capital Warsaw.
The southern coal mining region of Silesia had the third-highest number of new infections confirmed by officials on Thursday, at 1,994.
The latest deaths in Poland’s coronavirus outbreak are 255 people with pre-existing medical conditions and 46 who died directly because of COVID-19, the Polish health ministry said in a tweet.
On Wednesday, Poland reported 18,820 new coronavirus infections and 236 new deaths, its second-highest daily totals in the pandemic, compared with 132 deaths and 16,300 fresh cases a day earlier.
14,631 in hospitals, 489,079 quarantined
The health ministry announced on Thursday morning that 14,631 COVID-19 patients were in hospitals nationwide, 1,203 of them on ventilators, with a further 489,079 people quarantined for possible coronavirus exposure, and 48,977 under epidemiological supervision.
Meanwhile, 129,267 people have now recovered from COVID-19 throughout the country, including 5,763 over the last 24 hours, the health ministry also said.
Tougher measures to battle COVID-19 came into effect across Poland at the end of last week following a surge in cases.
The entire country is now covered by restrictions that were previously limited to areas most affected by the coronavirus.
Children under 16 are allowed to leave their homes only under the supervision of an adult between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Meanwhile, pubs, restaurants and cafes are only allowed to provide take-aways and delivery orders.
Gatherings of more than five people have been forbidden, though people who live or work together are exempt from the rule.
Also, the government has appealed to people aged over 70 not to leave their homes unless necessary.
Poland this month introduced special shopping hours for people aged over 60 between 10 a.m. and noon.
Secondary schools and universities throughout the country have switched to distance learning. Meanwhile, primary schools are still providing in-person instruction to younger pupils.
Polish lawmakers last week approved a string of measures aiming to help the authorities battle the escalating coronavirus epidemic, including double pay for medics who have to treat COVID-19 patients.
Amid a spike in coronavirus cases, strict new rules came into effect in the country earlier this month under which everyone is required to wear a face covering when going out in public.
Beginning Saturday, October 10, people must cover their mouths and noses when outdoors in public places as well as in most indoor environments nationwide.
Amid an escalating outbreak, the country has decided to set up a network of temporary hospitals to treat coronavirus patients.
With 118 COVID-19 deaths per million population, Poland remains far less affected by the coronavirus epidemic than many other countries in Europe, new statistics have shown.
To compare, Belgium has 931 deaths per million residents since the start of the pandemic, according to data released by the Polish health ministry on Tuesday, while Spain has 741 and Britain reports 662.
(gs/pk)
Source: IAR, PAP, TVP Info