English Section

Poland easing COVID rules in provinces with fewer cases

21.04.2021 17:40
Poland on Wednesday announced that coronavirus restrictions will be relaxed next week in regions with fewer COVID cases after a fall in new infections and deaths.
Health Minister Adam Niedzielski.
Health Minister Adam Niedzielski. Photo: PAP/Mateusz Marek

A system of mixed online and on-site education will from Monday be brought in for younger pupils in 11 provinces, Health Minister Adam Niedzielski told reporters

Beauty parlours and hairdressers in such regions will also be able to reopen from the start of next week, he added.

'Very cautious step'

"This is a very cautious step… the number of deaths is still high, and we still have a large number of infections," Niedzielski said.

A swathe of restrictions will be maintained in provinces with a higher number of COVID cases, including the densely populated southern coal-mining region of Silesia, and the central Łódzkie region.

Poland reopened nurseries and preschools to all children on Monday. Under previous rules, preschools across the country were only allowed to admit children of medics, soldiers, police and firefighters.

Officials on Wednesday reported 13,926 new coronavirus infections and 740 more deaths, bringing the country's total number of cases during the pandemic to 2,718,493 and fatalities to 63,473.

Niedzielski said the government expected a let-up in the spread of the coronavirus, and would next week unveil plans for easing restrictions on hotels, restaurants and other sectors, as well as on organizing wedding receptions.

He added that cultural institutions would most likely be allowed to reopen in early May.

(pk)

Source: IAR/PAP