The highest number of daily COVID infections since the start of pandemic

Authorities have said the latest wave will drive case numbers to levels not yet seen in Poland, with estimates of the peak ranging from 60,000 to as many as 140,000 daily infections.

The number of active cases, that is people who are currently infected, has amounted to 709,875 and is the highest since the start of the pandemic in Poland.

Older primary school students and high school students were due to move to remote learning on Thursday, the education ministry said earlier in the week.

The government has other limited restrictions in place, including wearing masks in enclosed public spaces, but they are not strictly enforced.

Poland, a country of around 38 million people, has so far reported 4,695,435 COVID-19 cases and 104,636 deaths.

Over 1 million people are quarantined, the health ministry said on Thursday.