Poland mulls new restrictions as COVID-19 cases spike

Poland broke its record on the daily number of new COVID-19 infections for the second day in a row on Friday, as 1,587 new cases were confirmed in a 24-hour span by the country’s health ministry.

The previous record for the daily number was 1,136, which was set only a day earlier, confirming a spike in infection numbers. On Friday, over 137,000 individuals were in quarantine, according to the health ministry.

In reaction, the Polish government will announce restrictions in areas hit hardest. “There will be restrictions on social gatherings, and others,” health ministry spokesman Wojciech Andrusiewicz told journalists.

“Right now, there are talks going on between the (health) minister Niedzielski and the new team that has recently been formed.”

As of Friday, 19 counties were designated as so-called yellow zones where restrictions apply for public events and family gatherings. Two counties are designated as red zone, where people must comply with stricter restrictions.