Of the fresh cases, the most - 1,333 - were in the central region of Mazowieckie, which contains the national capital Warsaw.
The latest deaths in Poland’s coronavirus outbreak are 338 people with pre-existing medical conditions and 100 who died directly because of COVID-19, the Polish health ministry said in a tweet.
On Friday, Poland confirmed 8,790 new coronavirus infections and 332 more deaths nationwide, compared with 12,054 fresh cases and 186 deaths a day earlier.
On November 25, the country reported its highest daily toll of 674 deaths related to the coronavirus.
On November 7, the Polish health ministry confirmed 27,875 new single-day cases, the most since the pandemic hit the country in early March.
A nation in quarantine
Poland on December 28 entered a three-week "national quarantine" as it struggles to contain the coronavirus.
Shopping malls have been ordered to close until January 17, though some retail outlets, such as grocery stores and pharmacies, are allowed to stay open.
Hotels and ski slopes will be shut to the general public throughout that period, and anyone arriving in Poland by public transportation must undergo a 10-day quarantine.
Second wave hits hard
The latest set of curbs comes after tougher measures to battle COVID-19 took effect across Poland in November following a surge in cases amid a second wave of the pandemic.
As part of those restrictions, theatres, cinemas, museums, galleries and gyms were told to close temporarily.
Meanwhile, schools and universities throughout the country have returned to distance learning.
Under restrictions announced in October, 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 in October introduced special shopping hours for people aged over 60 between 10 a.m. and noon.
Vaccinations under way
Meanwhile, a 52-year-old Warsaw hospital nurse on Sunday, December 27, became the first Pole to be vaccinated against the coronavirus.
The first batch of 10,000 vaccine doses arrived in the country a day earlier.
The government has launched a media campaign called Szczepimy Się (Let's Get Vaccinated) to encourage Poles to get COVID-19 shots.
Polish officials have said they expect nearly 1.5 million coronavirus vaccine doses to reach their country by the end of January.
In the first quarter of this year, a total of 2.94 million people are expected to be vaccinated for COVID-19 throughout the country.
Healthcare workers first in line
Frontline healthcare workers are first in line to be vaccinated, followed by pensioners in nursing homes, people over 70, police, soldiers and teachers.
Citizens over 70 will be able to sign up for COVID-19 shots from January 15.
Poland plans to spend PLN 3 billion (EUR 675m, USD 820m) on over 60 million doses of coronavirus vaccines under a national inoculation programme adopted by the government.
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced last month that his government had secured vaccines for the Polish population from six leading international drug makers.
Just over 6,000 vaccination sites will be available to citizens as the country rolls out its COVID-19 vaccination programme, the Polish prime minister's top aide, Michał Dworczyk, said on Monday, January 4. Initially, the government planned to set up around 8,000 such sites nationwide.
(pk)
Source: IAR, PAP, TVP Info, Reuters