Poland will remove its last remaining coronavirus restrictions at the start of next week, 28 March, health minister Adam Niedzielski has announced.
From that day, the obligation to wear masks in indoor spaces will no longer apply. The one exception is healthcare facilities, where they will still be required. Niedzielski also recommended that people continue to wear masks in crowded places.
Minister @a_niedzielski w #MZ: Podjąłem decyzję o zniesieniu od 28 marca obowiązku noszenia maseczek, nie dotyczy to podmiotów leczniczych, tam nadal będzie obowiązek zakrywania twarzy. Rekomenduję jednak noszenie maseczek w miejscach dużych skupisk ludzkich. pic.twitter.com/x0LrwWMyIo
— Ministerstwo Zdrowia (@MZ_GOV_PL) March 24, 2022
Likewise, isolation and quarantine requirements for those infected with COVID-19 or who have had contact with them will be abolished on Monday. This also applies to travellers arriving in Poland, who will no longer have to enter quarantine.
However, Niedzielski noted that people who test positive for Covid will still be expected to isolate, reports RMF24. But this will be done through the normal process of sick leave given by a doctor, and will no longer be managed by the sanitary services and enforced by the authorities.
The health minister also announced that, from 1 April, Covid tests will be carried out only on doctor’s orders, with that doctor then deciding on sick leave in the case of a positive result.
Minister @a_niedzielski w #MZ: Znosimy także izolację i kwarantannę. Pacjenci zidentyfikowani jako pozytywni, będą musieli sami się izolować w domu. pic.twitter.com/BfcYrV6qiI
— Ministerstwo Zdrowia (@MZ_GOV_PL) March 24, 2022
“The steps we are taking are to treat coronavirus infections the same as other infectious diseases,” said Niedzielski, quoted by Puls Medycyny. However, he added that, if there are local outbreaks of the virus, sanitary authorities could reimpose quarantine and isolation requirements.
The minister noted that coronavirus infections have been declining consistently since their all-time peak in early February, and that the recent influx of refugees from Ukraine and end of the winter school holidays have not caused any increase. Today’s 8,994 new cases is almost 26% lower than a week ago.
“Both the international situation and the forecasts are positive,” said Niedzielski. “We anticipate a [further] reduction in infections and hospitalisation by the end of April.”
Main image credit: MZ_GOV_PL/Twitter
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.
