Health minister: wearing masks in closed spaces to be strictly executed

Poland reported 15,515 daily COVID-19 cases on Thursday, health ministry data showed - the highest total since April. There were 250 COVID-related deaths reported that day - the highest number since May.

Health Minister Adam Niedzielski said at a press conference on Thursday that the country was experiencing a serious spike in coronavirus infections. He added the dynamic of the increase was at 80% in a week-to-week comparison. "Unfortunately, we must face the fact that the concerning trend is continuing," he said.

"On the other hand, today's report has been published after a long weekend, after a few non-working days, so it's possible that some of these numbers are a result of a cumulation (...)" - the minister said.

He reminded that private doctors could also refer people to take COVID tests. He also stressed that the situation was "very concerning".

Niedzielski informed he was in talks with the Chief of Police regarding more rigourous execution of the duty to wear face masks in closed spaces. "This pertains mainly to public transport and places such as shopping malls, where people gather in large groups," Niedzielski said.

"On Monday I spoke with the head of Poland's Shopping Malls Association, and we've agreed to return to the regime related to wearing masks, and that staff should remind about this duty at the door. I also asked for the masks to be distributed in such places," the minister added.

Asked about potential lockdowns, the government spokesperson Piotr Müller said that the cabinet was considering such options, "but if it were to be introduced, we will definitely be trying to do it later, rather than sooner, in order to protect the normal functioning of the socio-economic life".