A restaurant in central Warsaw has announced that it will require diners to present proof of vaccination against COVID-19, recent recovery from the virus, or a recent negative test.
Der Elefant claims to be the first restaurant in Poland to introduce such a policy, saying that the move is designed to ensure the safety of guests amid increasing infections in Poland.
Starting on 1 October, people wishing to eat at the restaurant will be asked to show proof of identification as well as a certificate proving that they are either fully vaccinated, have recovered after being infected with COVID-19 in the last six months, or have a negative test result from the past 48 hours.
Poland has so far not followed the example of some other European countries in making admission to restaurants and other establishments conditional on showing a Covid certificate. A poll carried out in July showed that most Poles thought there should be some restrictions on unvaccinated people.
Announcing the new policy, Artur Jarczyński, owner of Der Elefant, said that the “difficult, but for us very important” decision had been made “to guarantee the greatest possible safety to staff and guests”.
“We treat the pandemic and the associated dangers seriously and feel responsible for our guests,’ he added. “Only by acting together and conducting ourselves responsibly are we in a position to get through this safely.”
Since the restaurant’s policy was announced, critics have visited its Facebook page to leave negative comments, although there have also been expressions of support.
One review vowed “I will never visit them again” as the restaurant “provides segregation of people for better and worse”. Another said “you should be ashamed” for the policy of “sanitary segregation”.
In August, Poland’s government set out details of a traffic-light system of local restrictions that it plans to introduce in the event of a significant rise in coronavirus infections this autumn.
Earlier that month, Jarosław Kaczyński, head of the ruling party, called unvaccinated people “extremely selfish” and “lacking empathy”. He said that they could “expect restrictions” as the state would protect the country using “both incentives…and more rigorous steps”
Having had one of the European Union’s lowest infection rates throughout much of the summer, Poland has recently been reporting a steady increase in cases. Around 51% of the population are fully vaccinated, below the EU average of 61%.
Main image credit: Adam Stepien / Agencja Gazeta
Ben Koschalka is a translator and senior editor at Notes from Poland. Originally from Britain, he has lived in Kraków since 2005.
