What restrictions will apply in Poland from March 1? [LIST]

We bear most of the restrictions and leave only those that are most necessary – said Mateusz Morawiecki at the conference on February 23. The new rules are to apply from March 1. What is changing in the restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic in Poland? See the list.

1. From March 1, limits will no longer apply to cinemas, restaurants, transport and meetings
2. Stationary work is also coming back
3. We are lifting most of the restrictions that are economic in nature — said the Minister of Health, Adam Niedzielski
4. Policies related to isolation, quarantine, arrival quarantine and the wearing of masks in confined spaces will still apply
5. Check your health. Just answer these questions
6. You can find more such information on the TvoiLokony home page

What restrictions will still apply from March 1?

– We can see that a significant part of all restrictions that have been in force until now can be lifted. Remove these restrictions that have accompanied us for many months of the pandemic, said Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki on Wednesday. He emphasized that other European countries are lifting the restrictions related to the pandemic.

– Since March 1, we have been lifting most of the restrictions that are economic in nature. In fact, only those restrictions remain – I’m talking about masks, about isolation, about quarantine – which are purely epidemic, related to maintaining the criterion of limiting virus transmission – added Health Minister Adam Niedzielski.

– Of course, these are also restrictions that we will decide to put up with in the coming weeks or months – we always consult these decisions with specialists, in this case it is about the Covid Council, which operates in a new formula – explained Niedzielski.

Obligation to cover the nose and mouth

Covering the nose and mouth will remain compulsory throughout the country in confined spaces. This can only be done with a mask – surgical (disposable), FFP2 or FFP3. Covering the nose and mouth with cloth masks, visors, scarves and scarves is not recommended.

The government website lists the places to comply with this obligation:

1. on the premises of shared properties (e.g. in the staircase),
2. on the bus, tram and train,
3. in a shop, shopping mall, bank, market and post office,
4. in the workplace, if there is more than 1 person in the room (unless the employer decides otherwise),
5. in the workplace during direct customer / client service,
6. in the cinema and theater,
7. at the doctor’s, at the clinic, in the hospital, at the massage and tattoo parlor,
8. in church and school, at university,
9. in offices and other public buildings (court, cultural institutions, banks, post offices, etc.),
10. in schools and universities during breaks between lessons and classes, unless otherwise decided by the head of the entity.

The rest of the text is below the video.

Read also: Novavax vaccine in Poland from March 1. What do we know about her?

Isolation – no change

From February 15, 2022, isolation lasts for seven days. More precisely, according to the governmental website, patient.gov.pl, if the primary care physician does not decide to extend the time of home isolation, it ends:

1. in people with symptoms of COVID-19 – 24 hours after the symptoms disappear, but not less than seven days after the onset of symptoms,
2. in asymptomatic individuals – seven days after obtaining a positive result (days in quarantine before obtaining the test result are not included).

Some groups of people may end their home isolation because of COVID-19 early. This includes health care workers and people who care for residents of social care homes. The condition for shortening the isolation is to perform two PCR tests at least 24 hours apart and obtain a negative result from both tests.

Quarantine – no changes

From February 15, quarantine lasts the same as isolating a sick person, i.e. seven days. In February, the so-called quarantine from contact. This means that people who have had contact with the infected coronavirus are no longer subject to mandatory quarantine. People who have been referred for a PCR test are still in quarantine.

In the case of people who have been quarantined as a result of a test referral, it ends when a negative result is obtained (if the result is positive, the patient goes into isolation).

Quarantine may be reduced to five days for a doctor or nurse if they provide services to people suffering from COVID-19. This rule also applies to uniformed services: soldiers and officers of the Police, Border Guard, State Fire Service and the State Protection Service.

Quarantine for people coming from abroad

Quarantine for people coming to Poland from the European Union Member States, from the Schengen area, from Turkey and from outside the European Union and the Schengen area lasts 7 days. However, it is binding for unvaccinated people.

Quarantine does not apply to people who:

1. are fully vaccinated and may present a valid covid certificate or other document confirming that they have been vaccinated, in Polish or in English,
2. are convalescents with the EU COVID-19 Certificate or other document (as above),
3. tested negative for COVID-19 (performed within the last 48 hours),
4. are under 12 years of age and traveling with adults who are vaccinated or have a valid negative coronavirus test result
5. are subject to other exemptions listed in the Regulation of the Council of Ministers of May 6, 2021 on the establishment of certain restrictions, orders and bans in connection with the occurrence of an epidemic. 

Compulsory vaccinations for selected professional groups

The Ministry of Health informs on its website that “the obligation to vaccinate against COVID-19 applies in particular to: persons practicing the medical profession (…) in entities performing medical activities and persons performing professional activities in these entities, other than performing the medical profession and persons providing medical services. pharmaceuticals, professional tasks or professional activities in a generally accessible pharmacy or pharmacy point ».

These persons are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 no later than March 1, 2022.

“Failure to vaccinate against COVID-19 by those obliged to do so may result in termination of employment with the employee” – informs the Ministry of Health.

What restrictions are lifted from March 1?

1. Remote work in offices is abolished, stationary work is back. The recommendation to work remotely in companies and enterprises is also abolished.
2. All limits related to the occupancy of restaurants, commercial establishments, sports and cultural facilities, as well as those applicable to transport, during meetings and events will also disappear. Discos, clubs and other places available for dancing will reopen.
3. From February 21, full-time education in schools has been restored, a week earlier than originally planned.

Read also:

1. When can I safely “go out to people” after Omicron and I will not infect anyone? We review research and expert advice
2. Experts: COVID-19 will become endemic. What does this mean for us? [WE EXPLAIN]
3. They examined the dead from COVID-19. The virus is destroying the intestines