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Poland to reopen hotels, malls as more virus curbs lifted

29.04.2020 10:45
Hotels and shopping malls in Poland will reopen from May 4 as the country moves to the next phase of easing its coronavirus lockdown, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced on Wednesday.
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Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki is seen on a television screen as he holds a news conference on Wednesday.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki is seen on a television screen as he holds a news conference on Wednesday.Photo: PAP/Marcin Obara

Meanwhile, nurseries and preschools throughout the country will be allowed to resume operations from May 6 as part of the second stage of easing restrictions, Morawiecki told a televised news conference.

He added that cultural venues such as museums, art galleries and libraries would open their doors to the public next month, with social distancing measures in place, while physiotherapists will be allowed to restart their businesses to help people with rehabilitation needs.

Health Minister Łukasz Szumowski told reporters that more people were now recovering from the coronavirus around the country each day than being infected with it.

Poland last week eased some of its coronavirus lockdown restrictions, allowing more customers into stores and reopening parks and forests.

The country plans to reopen outdoor sports areas on May 4 and allow its top football league to resume behind closed doors at the end of next month.

The Polish prime minister said earlier this month that a swathe of restrictions imposed to curb the epidemic would be relaxed in four stages, but the timing would depend on the progress of the disease.

A total of 12,415 people have tested positive for the COVID-19 disease in Poland, with 606 deaths from the coronavirus so far, public health officials announced on Wednesday morning.

Meanwhile, 3,025 people have recovered from COVID-19 throughout the country since the start of the epidemic, the Polish health ministry also said.

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 since 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 were suspended on March 15.

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

Public gatherings of more than two people have been banned.

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

People have been ordered to wear masks or other face coverings when out in public.

Schools will remain shut until May 24 as Poland battles the epidemic, the country’s education minister announced on Friday.

(gs/pk)

Source: IAR, TVP Info

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