The health ministry said on Monday that 25 further cases had been confirmed, bringing the total number of infections in Poland to 150.

Three people in Polish hospitals have died from the virus, which has sent waves of fear around the world, hitting markets and causing people to re-think their habits as they wonder uneasily what the future holds.

Polish Health Minister Łukasz Szumowski warned on Monday that the number of infections in his country was likely to rise fast.

He said: “We have to be prepared that this week we will have a four-digit total in terms of the number of people infected and this growth will be rapid.”

Michał Dworczyk, the head of the Prime Minister's Office, said on Monday that around 30,000 people were in quarantine in this country.

Poland has declared a state of "epidemic emergency" and is temporarily closing its borders to non-residents.

International passenger air and rail connections were suspended on Sunday, though the government is chartering special flights to help its citizens return home.

In another move to contain the spread of the virus, the government has decided to limit the operations of shopping malls and close all pubs, clubs and casinos.

Public gatherings of more than 50 people have been banned.

The first case of coronavirus infection was confirmed by Polish authorities on March 4, while the country's first coronavirus fatality was announced last Thursday.

(pk)

Source: PAP