⁍ Poland will increase the number of soldiers relieving the overloaded health system to over 20,000 from around 3,000.

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⁍ The soldiers will build temporary hospitals, help doctors in selecting COVID-19 patients, set up and run drive-through testing sites and help the elderly.

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⁍ Earlier on Friday, the country reported a record 21,629 new coronavirus infections.

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– Poland’s health system is so overwhelmed by the H1N1 virus that the country is turning to the military. The defense ministry says it plans to increase the number of soldiers fighting the pandemic to more than 20,000 from around 3,000, Reuters reports. The troops will build temporary hospitals, help doctors treat patients, set up drive-through testing sites, and help the elderly. Poland has seen a record 21,629 new infections from the virus this week, the health ministry says. The outbreak comes at a time when the country is facing massive protests over a near-total ban on abortion. The ruling Law and Justice party says the surge in cases will lead to further growth in cases and warned of tougher actions against protesters. Some immunologists say, however, that most protesters have been wearing face masks, keeping distance, and were out in the open, which reduces the risk of infection. Poland’s national prosecutor instructed his local subordinates to assess cases of ‘illegal assemblies during the pandemic’ in light of ‘the danger of endangering the health and lives of many people.’