The Polish government has introduced further restrictions nationwide in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus as Poland today again recorded its highest ever daily number of new cases.
As he had warned earlier this week, the prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, today declared that the whole of Poland will be classified as a “red zone”, with the toughest level of restrictions, from tomorrow.
This means that new measures introduced last week – including various restrictions on gyms and pools, public transport, religious ceremonies and cultural events – will continue to apply. But in addition to these, the prime minister announced today that:
- Restaurants, cafes, pubs and bars must close their doors, with only takeaway and delivery services allowed
- Children in Years 4 to 8 at primary school will move to remote learning (as is already the case for secondary schools and universities)
- People up to the age of 16 will not be allowed outside between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., apart from under adult supervision
- People aged 70+ should not go out except for: carrying out professional activity, “fulfilling necessary requirements for everyday life”, and participating in or leading religious worship
- Parties, meetings and gatherings will be limited to 5 people not from the same household
- Customer numbers in shopping outlets will be restricted to: 5 people per cash desk in places up to 100 square metres in size; 1 person per 15 square metres in places larger than 100 square metres in size.
🔴 Od soboty, 24 października, w całej Polsce obowiązują nowe zasady bezpieczeństwa.
🔴 Cała Polska jest strefą czerwoną 🔴 pic.twitter.com/LCz2nU8XOp— Kancelaria Premiera (@PremierRP) October 23, 2020
“We have to stop the increase in infections, and the restrictions that we introduce will have an effect in 10-14 days,” said Morawiecki. “The most important thing is human life and the stability of the health system.”
“Unless there is a flattening and slowdown in the rate of growth of infections, it is possible that we will have to introduce further drastic measures, such as closing borders, limiting movement or deeper lockdown,” warned the prime minister.
Morawiecki said that he knows the restrictions will be “very difficult news” for the hospitality industry. “But according to specialists, [such establishments] are places where there are a lot of people in a small area and infections frequently occur.”
The prime minister also announced that, in order to provide support for elderly people in isolation, a “Solidarity Corps” to support seniors was being established. It will involve volunteers, scouts, territorial forces and other organisations.
The minister for family and social policy, Marlena Maląg, also announced at the press conference that a special helpline for seniors was being set up to provide information, advice and, if necessary, a volunteer to visit their home.
“This coming week will determine whether there will be a further exponential escalation of the pandemic or whether the extent of the pandemic’s growth will change,” added health minister Adam Niedzielski. “We must do everything we can to contain the pandemic.”
Poland today recorded its highest ever daily number of new coronavirus cases, 13,632, breaking yesterday’s record of 12,107. Today’s death figure, 153, is second only to yesterday’s 168.
The number of active cases (119,054), hospitalised patients (10,788), and occupied ventilators (851) are all at their highest levels since the beginning of the pandemic.
“Our health service remains operational,” Niedzielski assured, “but we must all be aware that infrastructure cannot be expanded indefinitely – and this is about personnel.”
There have been widespread reports of Poland’s healthcare system struggling to cope amid the rapidly rising number of COVID-19 cases. Recordings have revealed hospitals in Warsaw turning away patients in ambulances.
Earlier this week, the government announced that it was turning the National Stadium in Warsaw – Poland’s largest arena – into a temporary emergency hospital. Similar facilities are to be created in other parts of the country.
However, many hospital directors and doctors have said that the main problem is not a lack of equipment or space, but rather a shortage of medical personnel, in particular those trained to use ventilators.
Yesterday, the lower house of Poland’s parliament, the Sejm, passed legislation intended to bolster the fight against COVID-19. The bill received cross-party support, with 423 MPs voting in favour and only 11 against (all but two of them from the far-right Confederation party).
Among other measures, it increases the pay of medical personnel assigned to deal with the pandemic to 200% of their base salary. It also makes it easier for specialist doctors from outside the European Union to have their qualifications recognised in Poland and to begin work, reports RMF24.
Provisions were also included to make it possible for retail workers to refuse service to customers that do not cover their mouth and nose, as is required under current restrictions.
The bill would also introduce into law fines for failure to comply with coronavirus restrictions. Previously there had been doubts as to the legality of the thousands of fines that have so far been issued.
The legislation now goes to the upper-house Senate, which can suggest amendments and in theory delay the passage of the bill, but in practice the final form is decided by the more powerful Sejm. It then passes to President Andrzej Duda.
Main image credits: Jakub Wlodek / Agencja Gazeta
Daniel Tilles is editor-in-chief of Notes from Poland. He has written on Polish affairs for a wide range of publications, including Foreign Policy, POLITICO Europe, EUobserver and Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.
