Poland cases rise to record levels - 70% of ventilator beds are occupied

[kiwibird]

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/poland-reports-record-daily-covid-19-cases/2188271

Poland on Thursday reported 34,151 new coronavirus cases, biggest single day jump since the beginning of the pandemic.

Amid a rise in numbers, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced new restrictions, saying the current situation requires "decisive action."

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The overall caseload in the central European country, which has a population of 37.97 million, has reached more than 2.15 million.


As many as 520 people lost their lives due to the virus in the past 24 hours, pushing the death toll to 50,860. Over 5.3 million vaccine doses have been administered so far.

https://www.politico.eu/article/poland-coronavirus-lockdown-churches-open-easter/

WARSAW?Stricken by soaring COVID case numbers and one of the highest death rates in Europe, Poland?s nationalist government tightened lockdown measures Thursday but kept some key carve-outs ? including religious services over Easter.

"The pressure of the third wave is very strong. Over 70 percent of [hospital] beds are occupied. More than 70 percent of ventilator beds are occupied as well," Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told journalists. "We?re approaching the limits of the health care system's efficiency."

Under the new rules, which take effect Saturday, hardware and furniture stores larger than 2,000 square meters will be closed, while essential stores like supermarkets will have stricter limits on the number of customers.