Hotels and shopping malls to reopen on May 4

Poland will reopen hotels and shopping malls on May 4 while it will consider reopening pre-schools on May 6, Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Wednesday, in a move to ease restrictions imposed to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

"We have seen 370 recoveries. It's the first time we may say that there is an actual increase in the number of faster recoveries," PM Morawiecki said.

"More people are recovering than contracting the virus," said Health Minister Łukasz Szumowski on Wednesday. He also called upon citizens to stick to wearing masks in public places.

- stores in shopping malls can reopen under strict sanitary regime

- hotels and other accommodation facilities can start taking guests

- nurseries and pre-schools may organise small groups of children (from May 6)

- some cultural institutions, such as libraries, museums and galleries are to reopen

- rehabilitation therapies can now resume work

Poland started relaxing some curbs earlier in April, saying they were costly for the economy. It has reopened forests and parks and eased rules on the number of customers in shops.

On Saturday (April 25) PM Morawiecki informed that some sport facilities would reopen from May 4, Polish football top flight would resume season on May 29, and speedway races from June 12.

According to the schedule presented by the government, the third stage of lifting restrictions will allow some restaurants to provide indoor dining again, under strict sanitary rules. Also beauty and hair salons would be allowed to reopen.

Fourth stage assumes opening of massage parlours, solariums, as well as gyms and fitness clubs. Also cinemas and theatres would be allowed to operate under new sanitary rules.

By Wednesday, Poland, the European Union member state of 38 million, had reported 12,415 cases and 606 deaths.