The Polish government is considering taking new steps to curb the spread of COVID-19 after the number of new cases rose by a record amount for the second successive day. On Thursday, the Health Ministry said 615 infections were recorded, which was the new record only until Friday, when 657 cases were reported. In total, Poland has reported 45,688 infections and 1,716 deaths so far.
The Health Ministry reported 657 new cases and seven deaths, taking the total number of cases since the pandemic began to 45,688 and the death toll to 1,716.
Of the new cases, 227 were in the Silesia region, where there has been an outbreak among coal miners.
High numbers of new cases are expected over the coming days, a spokesman for the Health Ministry told state news agency PAP, drawing attention to the situation in Silesia.
Local sanitary services in the Silesia region said that causes of the growing number of infections among miners included the difficulty in keeping a distance between workers.
Quarantine for travellers may return
Poland's prime minister said on Thursday that Poland may have to reimpose quarantine for travellers from countries such as Spain to contain the coronavirus.
Poland has reported fewer cases of COVID-19 than some other European countries, but in recent days the number of new infections has climbed, with the health ministry blaming outbreaks in coal mines and social gatherings.
"It cannot be ruled out that if the situation gets worse, we will need to limit the spread of the coronavirus... We are trying to work out solutions that will not restrict business activities as before," Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told a news conference.
He said Poland may have to reimpose quarantine for people returning from countries such as Spain, but would analyse the situation and then decide on any action.
Poland started lifting a lockdown in May and eased quarantine restrictions last month.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, Reuters, PAP