Poland introduces Special Measures to Combat the Covid-19 Pandemic.
As the numbers of infected continues to rise, including two people from the Gdansk area, the government has introduced a swathe of closures to try to keep Poland safe as coronavirus engulfs Europe.
PM Mateusz Morawiecki said that pubs, restaurants and casinos will be closed, introduced limitations on shopping malls and a ban on public gatherings over 50 people.
He also said there will be a temporary entry ban on foreigners. This will not affect foreigners living and or working in Poland or people who are already here at midnight Saturday 14th March.
Speaking on Friday evening, the PM said grocery stores, pharmacies and drug stores will remain open while all other stores in shopping centres would close from midnight on Friday, under the new measures, however shops, banks and services not located in shopping malls will not be affected. Restaurants will be allowed to prepare take-away or home delivery meals.
Border controls will be reinstated while a temporary entry ban will apply to foreign travellers not living or working in Poland from midnight Saturday 14th March for 10 days with a possibility to extend the ban for a further 20 days and again for a further 30 days if necessary. Any person crossing the border after Saturday night will be put on 14-day home quarantine or to a quarantine centre if they are not able to provide an address in Poland.
Internal flights and rail travel remain unaffected, but international air and rail connections will be suspended from the early hours of Sunday, with the exception of charter flights into Poland. Borders will remain open for the transport of goods, the prime minister said.
The PM also called for all citizens, especially children and young people, to remain at home as this is an effective method of preventing the virus’s further spread.
Health Minister Łukasz Szumowski said that from Saturday a state of epidemic threat would be in force and that steps were being taken to contain the coronavirus
For updates – please check the English pages on Radio Gdansk or check the government information website >>>HERE or the Ministry of Health hotline – 800 190 590 (24-hour service), with information also available in English..
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