Poland will introduce a national quarantine from December 28 to deal with COVID-19 – EU

Poland will impose a national quarantine from December 28 to January 17, including closing all hotels, ski slopes and shopping centers, Health Minister Adam Nedjelsky said today, quoted by AFP and Reuters. Only grocery stores, pharmacies and a few other outlets will remain open, reports BTA.

The Polish health system is battling a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, reaching a peak of 27,000 new infections per day in November.

Nedjelski warned that there was a danger of a third wave of the pandemic in the new year and called on Poles to be careful, to show responsibility both to themselves and to their loved ones. However, he noted that calls cannot be trusted alone, so there will be a new shutdown.

Although no new restrictions will be imposed on Christmas, Nedjelski said there will be an evening on New Year’s Eve from 7 p.m. on December 31 to 6 a.m. on January 1 to limit the spread of the virus. There will also be a 10-day quarantine for those who return to the country in organized transport.

Current restrictions, such as limiting the number of passengers on public transportation and people in churches, are maintained. Restaurants and bars will also be closed, and it is forbidden to gather more than five people in the same place. All schools will be closed until January 17.

The Ministry of Health announced yesterday a total of 1,171,854 people infected with kovid in Poland since the start of the pandemic (11,953 in 24 hours), and a total of 24,345 who died from the infection (431 in 24 hours).