An aquapark and thermal baths complex in the Polish city of Poznań has been forced to defend its decision to introduce a separate ticket sales point for fully vaccinated guests.
Termy Maltańskie also switched off comments on the Facebook post providing details of the change after angry clients accused it of discrimination. It insists it was simply following government guidelines.
The leisure complex announced the new admission procedure on Friday, inviting visitors with a certificate showing that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to a separate ticket booth along with children aged up to 12. All other customers were to use the normal queue, with numbers limited to 50% of the park’s capacity.
Current restrictions on swimming pools and aquaparks in Poland limit them to 50% capacity. However, as with many of the other numerical limits operating as Poland loosens its previous restrictions, fully vaccinated people are not counted towards the total.
But many bathers hoping to visit Termy Maltańskie expressed their unhappiness with the policy in comments under the post, accusing the centre of “segregation” and “selection” and vowing never to visit again.
“History is repeating itself in small steps. And you and your management are adding to this,” wrote one. Others, however, supported the policy, noting that it meant more people would be able to enter the swimming pools.
“Owing to the numerous comments accusing us of discrimination and even racist actions…we have turned off the option of commenting,” responded Termy Maltańskie in an update to its original post.
“We would like to make it clear that the decision on opening an additional ticket desk for vaccinated people is caused by the lack of decision on increasing maximum attendance limits for our sector. Admitting vaccinated people above the 50% limit is the only chance for more of you to be able to enjoy a stay in our pools and saunas.”
“The additional queue for vaccinated people makes entrance to the swimming pool easier. More people can use it,” Filip Szymanowski, the park’s marketing and sales director, told Gazeta Wyborcza, noting that operating at 50% capacity means there is a limit of 900 guests, not including vaccinated ones.
Explaining the decision to exempt fully vaccinated people from attendance limits at such venues as swimming pools and stadiums, as well as hotels and weddings, health minister Adam Niedzielski said earlier this month that “they simply do not constitute an epidemic threat during the event”.
“This is not a form of discrimination, but a form of epidemic safeguard,” he added, quoted by Rzeczpospolita. The government has said that people deciding against vaccinations are increasingly likely to face barriers.
“We must find a way to get through to people who don’t want to vaccinate or are hesitating,” said Waldemar Kraska, a deputy health minister, last month, hinting at granting further privileges.
There have been concerns, however, about the practicalities and legality of institutions, businesses and event organisers collecting information about which people are vaccinated.
Earlier this month, the director of one of Poland’s biggest music festivals, Pol’and’Rock, announced that it will only be open to vaccinated people.
“We asked our audience: a concert for everyone with no conditions, so a festival for 250 people; or a festival for 20,000 guests with vaccination-type rules,” said Jerzy Owsiak, quoted by Business Insider Polska. “The vast majority choose the second option.”
However, one big-name Polish band, Kult, has said it will not perform at concerts where unvaccinated people are barred.
As of this morning, 11.2 million people in Poland are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 – just under 30% of the population. More than 16 million – almost 43% – have received at least one dose.
Main image credit: Termy Maltańskie
Ben Koschalka is a translator and senior editor at Notes from Poland. Originally from Britain, he has lived in Kraków since 2005.
