WARSAW, June 8 (Xinhua) -- The Polish government has decided to close 12 coal mines in the country on Monday following a three-day spike in the COVID-19 epidemic.
The number of confirmed cases in the country reached 27,160 by Monday evening, with well over 500 newly diagnosed patients per day over the weekend. On Monday, the Polish Health Ministry said that 599 tests came out positive over a 24-hour period, marking a new daily record for new cases since the start of the pandemic in the country.
The 24-hour infection rate is now among the highest in Europe. The absolute number of COVID-19 infection confirmations have been comparatively low in the country. However, they have been rising steadily since the start of the pandemic, with typically between 300 and 400 new cases each day.
Poland has mostly come out of lockdown, with most businesses allowed to function and the requirement to wear face covering masks lifted in open spaces.
The 12 mines selected for temporary closure are those that have confirmed COVID-19 cases among workers, but where not all workers have yet been tested, Minister of State Assets Jacek Sasin announced.
"All miners will be paid 100 percent of their salaries and will not be hit financially," Sasin said. The mines will remain closed for three weeks.
At the start of the current peak, the government already extended the ban on international air travel. The ban was originally to be lifted on June 6, but was extended to June 16.
To compensate Poles, President Andrzej Duda promised that all families will eligible to receive a PLN 500 (128 U.S. dollars) voucher per child to spend on a domestic summer holiday. Enditem
