Restrictions imposed in Poland to curb the spread of coronavirus will most likely be gradually lifted starting April 19, government officials informed on Tuesday. Shops would be the first facilities to see the limitations withdrawn. Poland's borders will remain closed until May 3. The number of coronavirus infections has gone up to 7,049 with 251 deaths.
Poland will gradually lift lockdown measures imposed to contain the novel coronavirus from April 19, starting with restrictions on shops, the government said on Tuesday, as it prepares to hold presidential elections by post on May 10.
As of Tuesday morning, Poland had reported 7,049 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus, and 251 deaths.
"From the 19th we will slowly start unfreezing the economy," Health Minister Łukasz Szumowski told Polish private radio station RMF FM.
Restrictions on shops are likely to be lifted first, Poland's government spokesman Piotr Müller told public radio.
Muller said the government would decide on the lifting of further curbs on Wednesday or Thursday.
Last week the authorities extended a lockdown on schools until April 26 and businesses until April 19. Limits for air and rail transport have also been extended. Poland's borders will remain closed until May 3.
The May 10 elections are now expected to be held exclusively by post in an effort to curtail the risks associated with coronavirus. Opposition politicians and critics say the election risks not being free or fair and some have called for voters to boycott the ballot altogether.
Szumowski said on Tuesday that he is waiting on the General Sanitation Inspectorate to judge the safety of carrying out the elections by post before he will issue his own recommendation.
Human rights officials, international organisations and European Union Commissioner Vera Jourova have criticised the Polish ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party's push to hold elections by post.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, Reuters