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Poland reports 10th COVID-19 death

24.03.2020 21:32
Another coronavirus patient has died in Poland, bringing the country’s total death toll from the COVID-19 disease to 10, authorities said on Tuesday evening.
A patient is taken to an infectious diseases hospital in the western Polish city of Poznań on Tuesday.
A patient is taken to an infectious diseases hospital in the western Polish city of Poznań on Tuesday.Photo: PAP/Jakub Kaczmarczyk

The 71-year-old patient died at a hospital in the southern town of Cieszyn, the country’s health ministry said in a tweet.

It added that the man had been suffering from underlying medical conditions.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Poland rose by 152 on Tuesday, bringing the total to 901.

A day earlier, 116 new infections were confirmed by the health ministry.

The first infection was confirmed by Polish authorities on March 4, while the country's first coronavirus fatality was announced on March 12.

Poland has declared a “state of epidemic" and temporarily closed its borders to non-residents in a move to curb the spread of the illness.

International scheduled flights and passenger rail connections have been suspended. The government is chartering special flights to help Poles abroad return home.

In another move to contain the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic, the government has limited the operations of shopping malls and closed all pubs, clubs and entertainment venues.

Public gatherings of more than two people have been banned.

The Polish health ministry said on Monday that 1,138 people with suspected coronavirus infection were in hospitals nationwide, with a further 55,301 quarantined, 95,445 ordered to self-isolate after arriving from abroad, and 51,142 under epidemiological supervision.

Health and government officials have urged Poles to stay home and practice social distancing.

(gs)

Source: IAR