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New virus cases stabilizing in Poland, but still high: health minister

14.11.2020 11:00
The number of new coronavirus cases in Poland is stabilizing, but the apparent slowdown in the epidemic spread still puts a significant strain on the healthcare system, Polish Health Minister Adam Niedzielski said on Saturday.
Polish Health Minister Adam Niedzielski.
Polish Health Minister Adam Niedzielski.Photo: PAP/Leszek Szymański

“We are seeing a stabilization of the daily number of cases. [...] Unfortunately, these are still big numbers, and that means a heavy burden on the healthcare system”, Niedzielski told state news agency PAP.

Poland on Saturday reported 25,571 new coronavirus infections and a record 548 more deaths, bringing its total number of cases to 691,118 and fatalities to 10,045.

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, remain open.

Hotels are only able to take in guests on business trips. Theaters, cinemas, museums, libraries and galleries have been told to close temporarily.

With 213 COVID-19 deaths per million population, Poland remains less affected by the coronavirus epidemic than some other countries in Europe, new statistics have shown.

To compare, Belgium has 1,125 deaths per million residents since the start of the pandemic, according to data released by the Polish health ministry this week, while Spain has 841 and Britain reports 724.

(jh)

Source: PAP