Poland reported 17,260 new daily coronavirus cases on Wednesday, the highest number since November, data by health ministry showed, as the country grapples with its third wave of the pandemic.
The total number of COVID-19 cases in Poland has exceeded 1.8 million, including 45,997 deaths. Officials attribute the sharp increase in cases partly to the spread of a much more contagious variant of the coronavirus first identified in Britain.
Health ministry spokesman Wojciech Andrusiewicz told TVN24 on Wednesday that 30% of those tested had the British variant and that the peak of the pandemic was expected towards the end of March or the beginning of April.
Mr Andrusiewicz added that the latest daily spike in infections - 17,260 cases - was the highest record since the start of the third wave. "We're not reaching 20,000 cases but the numbers are higher than last week".
"Even though we're experiencing a spike, the week to week dynamic is slowing down" - he said.
"At the moment the dynamic is 25 percent. Yesterday and the day before, it was at 29 percent, whereas a week ago - at 30 percent. The most accurate comparison is week to week, rather than day to day" - the spokesman explained.
New pandemic restrictions could be announced later this week, government officials have indicated. Poland already has tight limits on social gatherings, schools are largely closed, with the exception of classes for most of the youngest children, and restaurants can only serve meals for delivery.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, Reuters