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Poland heads for lockdown with cases up 38% in a week

19 March 2021 21:42 (UTC +04:00)

Poland’s third coronavirus wave continues to gain momentum with 25,998 new cases on Friday, a 38% rise from the number reported one week ago, APA reports citing BBC.

There were 419 virus-related deaths, the health ministry said, up 19% from a week earlier.

Health ministry officials attribute the spike in infections to the UK variant, which accounts for 54% of all new cases.

The number of people in hospital rose 18% compared with a week ago, and the number of people on ventilators rose by 13%. There are more patients on ventilators now than at any time since the start of the pandemic.

A partial national lockdown will be introduced from Saturday, closing shopping centres, hotels, cultural and sporting facilities until 9 April. Primary school years 1-3 will return to online learning.

Nationwide, schools have been mostly closed for the best part of a year, apart from for the youngest pupils, and restaurants, bars and cafes are offering take away service only. Face masks must be worn in public spaces.