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Poland confirms 29,253 new coronavirus cases, 131 more deaths

28.03.2021 11:00
Poland on Sunday reported 29,253 new coronavirus infections and 131 more deaths, bringing its total number of cases during the pandemic to 2,250,991 and fatalities to 51,884.
A temporary hospital set up in Białystok, northeastern Poland, March 26.
A temporary hospital set up in Białystok, northeastern Poland, March 26.Photo: PAP/Artur Reszko

Of the new cases confirmed on Sunday, 4,652 were in the central region of Mazowieckie, which includes the national capital Warsaw.

Meanwhile, 4,647 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 Sunday, at 3,652.

The latest deaths in Poland’s coronavirus outbreak are 95 people with pre-existing medical conditions and 36 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.

29,071 in hospitals, 446,762 quarantined

The health ministry announced on Sunday morning that 29,071 COVID-19 patients were in hospitals nationwide, 2,894 of them on ventilators, with a further 446,762 people quarantined for possible coronavirus exposure.

Meanwhile, 1,798,922 people have now recovered from COVID-19 throughout the country, including 23,854 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 that took effect this weekend.

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

Large furniture and home improvement stores are closed, while sports facilities can 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 Sundaya total of 5,845,811 coronavirus vaccine shots had been administered nationwide, including over 3.86 million first doses and more than 1.98 million second doses, according to data released by officials.

(ał)
Source: PAP