Health Minister Niedzielski was expected to outline new regulations on the use of face masks, bandanas and other face coverings.
Meanwhile, stricter requirements could be brought in for people crossing the border with Poland’s southern neighbours, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, news outlets reported.
Slovakia, a country of 5.5 million, has suffered about 100 deaths per day recently, the highest in the world relative to population on a one-week basis, the Reuters news agency reported, citing data tracker ourworldindata.org.
Poland on Wednesday reported 12,146 new coronavirus infections and 372 more deaths, bringing its total number of cases during the pandemic to 1,661,109 and fatalities to 42,808.
‘Situation does not look good’
"Unfortunately, the situation does not look good at the moment," Niedzielski said.
He added that the number of new daily infections in his country had jumped from 8,700 a week ago.
After a prolonged period of distance learning, Poland in the middle of last month reopened schools for young children amid signs at the time of a let-up in the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
In a further easing of coronavirus curbs, shopping malls, museums and art galleries across the country were allowed to reopen earlier this month.
Meanwhile, restrictions on hotels, entertainment venues and outdoor sports areas including ski slopes were partially lifted on February 12.
Third wave
But Health Minister Niedzielski warned last week that the daily number of new COVID-19 infections in the country was starting to rise again in a worrying new trend.
Health ministry spokesman Wojciech Andrusiewicz declared last Friday that a third wave of the epidemic had started in Poland.
(pk)
Source: PAP/Reuters