Poland in COVID-19 LOCKDOWN! PM orders bars, restaurants, shopping centres and borders closed - and cancels ALL flights
The government has introduced a swathe of closures 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.
Shopping centres will offer limited services, mainly food stores and pharmacies.
He also said there will be a temporary entry ban on foreigners.
Speaking on Friday evening, the PM said grocery stores, pharmacies and drug stores will remain open while all other stores in shopping centres will close from midnight on Friday, under the new measures.
Borders will be closed and all flights in and out of the country have been cancelled.
Shops, banks and service centres outside of shopping malls will not be affected.
Border controls will be reinstated while a temporary entry ban will apply to foreigners from midnight Saturday for 10 days with a possibility to prolong the ban for 20 days and for a further 30 days. Poles crossing the border will be put on 14-day quarantine.
Cinemas and casinos will also be closed.
International air and rail connections will also be frozen from Sunday with the exception of charter flights into Poland. Borders will remain open for the transport of goods, the prime minister said.
Health Minister Łukasz Szumowski said that from Saturday a state of epidemic threat would be in force.
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.
With 68 confirmed cases so far and one death, PM Mateusz Morawiecki said his government had decided to introduce a ‘lockdown’ and ‘not abandon its citizens.’
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.
