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Poland confirms 31,757 new coronavirus cases, 448 more deaths

27.03.2021 11:00
Poland on Saturday reported 31,757 new coronavirus infections and 448 more deaths, bringing its total number of cases during the pandemic to 2,221,725 and fatalities to 51,753.
A field hospital in Kielce, south-central Poland, set to begin operation on Saturday, March 27.
A field hospital in Kielce, south-central Poland, set to begin operation on Saturday, March 27.Photo: PAP/Piotr Polak

Of the new cases confirmed on Saturday, 5,205 were in the central region of Mazowieckie, which includes the national capital Warsaw.

Meanwhile, 5,044 new infections were reported in the southern coal mining region of Silesia.

The western province of Wielkopolskie, which is home to the major city of Poznańhad the third-highest number of new infections confirmed by officials on Saturday, at 3,146.

The latest deaths in Poland’s coronavirus outbreak are 338 people with pre-existing medical conditions and 110 who died directly because of COVID-19, the Polish health ministry said.

On Friday, Poland reported a record daily rise in coronavirus infections for the third consecutive day, confirming 35,143 new cases, the most since the pandemic hit the country more than a year ago.

On Thursday, Poland confirmed 520 deaths and 34,151 new coronavirus infections nationwide, compared with 575 deaths and 29,978 fresh cases a day earlier.

28,574 in hospitals, 480,926 quarantined

The health ministry announced on Saturday morning that 28,574 COVID-19 patients were in hospitals nationwide, 2,823 of them on ventilators, with a further 480,926 people quarantined for possible coronavirus exposure.

Meanwhile, 1,775,068 people have now recovered from COVID-19 throughout the country, including 27,845 over the last 24 hours, the health ministry also said.

Poland toughens lockdown as cases soar

Poland's government on Thursday announced a range of new COVID-19 restrictions to take effect this weekend as officials reported another record daily rise in infections and the health minister warned the country was "in a crisis situation."

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said Poland was experiencing its most difficult moment in the pandemic, with over 70 percent of hospital beds with ventilators occupied.

He added that Poland's public health service was approaching the limits of its capacity to cope.

Under the new rules which take effect on Saturday, large retail outlets and churches will have to admit fewer people, hairdressers and beauty parlours will be shut, while kindergartens will be closed to children apart from those of medics, soldiers, police and firefighters.

Large furniture and home improvement stores will be closed, while sports facilities will only be open to professional athletes.

The new measures were announced after the country went into a partial national lockdown for three weeks from March 20 amid a resurgence of COVID-19 infections.

Health Minister Adam Niedzielski told reporters last week that restrictions already in force in four regions badly hit by the epidemic would be extended to cover the entire country.

Hotels, cinemas, theatres and sports facilities nationwide have been told to shut, while shopping malls are only allowed to sell essential items.

Meanwhile, young children across the country have returned to remote classes for three weeks.

'Let's get vaccinated'

At the end of December, the government launched a media campaign called Szczepimy Się (Let's Get Vaccinated) to encourage Poles to get COVID-19 shots.

As of Saturdaya total of 5,755,551 coronavirus vaccine shots had been administered nationwide, including over 3.78 million first doses and more than 1.96 million second doses, according to data released by officials.

(ał)
Source: PAP