Poland further restricts public gatherings to prevent the spread of coronavirus

Poland will impose further constraints on citizens to prevent the spread of coronavirus including a lockdown, with leaving home only allowed if justified. "We are doing so to prepare for the increased wave of infections," Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said at a press conference on Tuesday (March 24).

"We must further restrict public gatherings to an absolute minimum - to no more than two people at a time" - he explained.

He added there would be new restrictions in the public transport as well - passengers would be only allowed to sit in every second row of seats.

"There can be no congestion in trams or buses, we must keep distance" - said Morawiecki.

Prime Minister underscored that the lower-than-expected number of infections "must not dull our vigilance".

"It's necessary to introduce further restraints in Poland in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus" - he stressed.

According to PM Morawiecki, the new constraints will not influence the presidential election scheduled for May 10.

"The new constraints become effective as of today and will be binding until April 11," said the Minister of Health Łukasz Szumowski, who was at the press conference along PM Morawiecki.

He added that maximum of 5 people would be allowed to be present at Church masses.

"The ban on gatherings of more than 2 people does not include families," Szumowski explained.

He stressed the police would be controlling Poles' compliance with the latest restrictions.

The number of coronavirus cases in Poland, as of noon March 24, has gone up to 774. Nine of those infected died so far.

Minister Szumowski said Poland was making 3.000 coronavirus tests a day.

The COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating, the World Health Organization said, with more than 377,000 cases now recorded and infections reported from nearly every country.

More than 377,400 people have been infected across the world and over 16,500 have died, according to a Reuters tally.