As of April 19, Poland has slowly started to lift lockdown measures imposed to restrict the spread of the novel coronavirus. 

The easing of restrictions will start with shops, said the government on Tuesday, as it prepares for an upcoming presidential election on May 10.

Poland had reported 6,934 confirmed cases of coronavirus as of Monday, with 245 fatalities. 

"From the 19th we will slowly start unfreezing the economy," Health Minister Lukasz Szumowski told Polish private radio station RMF FM.

Piotr Muller, Poland’s government spokesman, told public radio that the limitations imposed on shops are likely to be lifted first. 

Last week, government authorities extended a lockdown on schools till April 26, with businesses to remain closed till April 19. Air and rail travel bans have also been extended, with Poland’s borders due to remain shut down until May 3. 

The elections on May 10 are expected to be held exclusively by post, as part of efforts to curb the coronavirus from spreading. 
Opposition politicians and critics believe that the election is at risk of not being free or fair, with a number of voters calling to boycott the vote completely. 

On Tuesday, Szumowski said that he is waiting on the General Sanitation Inspectorate to assess how safe it is to carry out elections by post, before publishing his own personal recommendation. 

Human rights officials, international organizations and European Union Commissioner Vera Jourova have scrutinized the Polish ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party’s endorsement to host elections by post.