Of the new cases confirmed by public health officials on Tuesday, 4,276 were in the southern coal mining region of Silesia.
Meanwhile, 3,846 new infections were reported in the western province of Wielkopolskie, which is home to the major city of Poznań.
The southern province of Małopolskie, which includes the historic city of Kraków, had the third-highest number of new infections confirmed by officials on Tuesday, at 2,697.
The latest deaths in Poland’s coronavirus outbreak are 269 people with pre-existing medical conditions and 61 who died directly because of COVID-19, the Polish health ministry said in a tweet.
On Monday, Poland confirmed 173 deaths and 21,713 new coronavirus infections nationwide, compared with 236 deaths and 24,785 fresh cases a day earlier.
On Saturday, November 7, the country reported a record 27,875 new single-day cases, the most since the pandemic hit the country in early March.
On Friday, November 6, Poland reported its highest daily toll of 445 deaths related to the coronavirus.
21,640 in hospitals, 407,486 quarantined
The health ministry announced on Tuesday morning that 21,640 COVID-19 patients were in hospitals nationwide, 1,898 of them on ventilators, with a further 407,486 people quarantined for possible coronavirus exposure, and 37,655 under epidemiological supervision.
Meanwhile, 230,661 people have now recovered from COVID-19 throughout the country, including 11,290 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 amid a second wave of the pandemic.
Shopping malls have been ordered to limit their operations until at least November 29, though some retail outlets, such as grocery stores, pharmacies and drugstores, will stay open to customers.
Hotels are only able to take in guests on business trips. Theatres, cinemas, museums and galleries have been told to close temporarily.
Schools and universities throughout the country have returned to distance learning, with the youngest primary school children switching to remote classes from Monday.
Under restrictions announced last month, children under 16 are only allowed to leave their homes 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 last month introduced special shopping hours for people aged over 60 between 10 a.m. and noon.
Amid a spike in coronavirus cases, strict new rules came into effect in the country last 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 155 COVID-19 deaths per million population, Poland remains less affected by the coronavirus epidemic than some other countries in Europe, recent statistics have shown.
To compare, Belgium has 1,011 deaths per million residents since the start of the pandemic, according to data released by the Polish health ministry last week, while Spain has 775 and Britain reports 689.
Poland’s prime minister said on Monday that millions of vaccines against the coronavirus were likely to reach his country next spring as part of a European deal with drug makers.
gs)
Source: IAR, PAP, TVP Info