1. Restrictions on movement
2 metres – the minimum distance between pedestrians. This also applies to families and close relatives.
The following are exempt from this obligation:
- parents with children requiring care (up to the age of 13)
- as well as people with disabilities who cannot move independently, people with a certificate confirming the need for special education and their carers.
2. Minors prohibited from going out without adult supervision
Children and young people up to the age of 13 may not leave home without supervision. Only the presence of a parent, legal guardian or another adult justifies their presence outside.
3. Obligation to cover the mouth and nose in public places
Everyone, apart from the few exceptions listed below, is required to cover their mouth and nose in the street, while walking, in public offices, shops, service premises and workplaces.
The restriction does not apply to:
- children up to 4 years of age
- people who have breathing difficulties (presenting a certificate or medical opinion is not required)
- people who cannot put on or remove face protection themselves because of their health condition (presenting a certificate or medical opinion is not required)
- people travelling by car – if the passengers live together
- people travelling by car – if only the driver or the driver with a child under 4 is present
- employees in workplaces, public-utility buildings and commercial facilities. IMPORTANT! People who directly serve visitors or customers in these places are nevertheless required to cover their mouths and noses!
- drivers of public collective transport and private carriers – provided that they are separated from passengers by a partition
- clergy conducting religious ceremonies
- farmers carrying out work on their farms
- soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland and allied forces, as well as officers of the Military Counterintelligence Service and the Military Intelligence Service performing official duties
- people staying in forests.
4. Ban on using playgrounds and zoos
The restriction applies to using zoos, playgrounds and Jordan gardens (in the sections containing playgrounds or equipment intended for children’s play). In forest areas, it is also prohibited to use camping sites, shelters and equipment intended for children’s play.
5. Public transport
On a bus, tram or metro, only half of the seats may be occupied. Ideally, every other seat should remain empty. If a vehicle has 70 seats, a maximum of 35 people may be on board.
6. Ban on using city bikes
7. Vehicles with more than 9 seats
In a vehicle with more than 9 seats, a maximum of half the seats may be occupied. Important! The restriction does not apply to passenger cars.
8. Air traffic
The restriction applies to: domestic and international passenger flights.
In force until: 9 May 2020 (this deadline may be extended)
9. International rail transport
The restriction applies to: international train journeys.
10. Ban on gatherings and events
All meetings, gatherings, assemblies and events are prohibited.
Excluded are: workplaces.
However, employers will have to provide their employees with additional safety measures. Thus:
- employees must use gloves or have access to disinfectant fluids
- individual workstations must be at least 1.5 metres apart.
If, for objective reasons, an employer cannot ensure this distance (1.5 m) – for example, because the production line does not allow it – they may depart from this rule, but only on the condition that they provide personal protective equipment related to combating the epidemic.
11. Shopping malls and centres
Only the following industries may conduct retail activities in shopping malls:
- food
- cosmetics (except products intended for perfuming or beautifying)
- toiletries and cleaning products
- medical and pharmaceutical products
- renovation and construction products
- press
- pet products
- fuel.
Important! Medical, banking, insurance, postal, laundry and catering services (delivery and takeaway) may be provided in shopping malls. So-called retail islands, however, are excluded from trading within malls.
12. Number of customers in shops, markets and post offices
The restriction applies to: the number of customers present at the same time in a shop, market or post office
Shops and service outlets
- For shops with a service area of less than 100 m²: 4 people per checkout. Thus, if a shop has 2 checkout counters, 8 customers may be inside at one time.
- For shops with a service area of more than 100 m²: 1 person per 15 m² of that area. Thus, a 300 m² shop may have 20 customers inside at one time.
Senior hours
From Monday to Friday, between 10:00 and 12:00, shops and service outlets may admit and serve only people over 65. During the remaining hours, shops and service premises are open to everyone, including people over 65. Important! Petrol stations are excluded from the so-called “senior hours”. During these two hours (10:00–12:00), pharmacies may also serve people who need to purchase medicine or a special-purpose food product because of an immediate threat to life or health.
Markets
A maximum number of people equal to the number of retail outlets multiplied by 4 may be present in a market or bazaar. Thus, if a neighbourhood bazaar has 20 such outlets, a maximum of 80 customers may be there at one time. Stall staff are not included in this number.
Post offices
The number of people present in a post office at one time may not exceed the number of service windows multiplied by 2. If a branch has 5 windows, 10 people may be inside at one time.
13. Large DIY and building-supply stores
Large DIY and building-supply stores will be closed on weekends.
14. Hairdressing, beauty and tattoo salons
All hairdressing and beauty salons, tattoo parlours and piercing studios are closed without exception. These services may not be provided outside salons either – for example, home visits are not allowed.
15. Religious ceremonies
A limited number of people may participate in Mass or another religious ceremony. This is 1 participant per 15 m² of the building’s area, excluding people conducting the service. No more than 50 participants may be present at a cemetery during a single funeral, excluding people conducting the service, as well as people carrying out the burial or employed by the funeral company or funeral home.
16. Poland’s borders
Only the following may cross the country’s borders:
- Polish citizens
- foreigners who are spouses or children of Polish citizens or remain under the permanent care of Polish citizens
- people who hold a Pole’s Card
- diplomats
- people holding a permanent or temporary residence permit in Poland or a work permit
- in particularly justified cases, the commander of a Border Guard post – after obtaining the consent of the Commander-in-Chief of the Border Guard – may permit a foreigner to enter the territory of the Republic of Poland under the procedure specified in the Act of 12 December 2013 on foreigners (Journal of Laws of 2020, item 35)
- foreigners operating a means of transport used to carry goods.
Important! Cargo transport operates normally.
In force until: 3 May 2020 (this deadline may be extended)
17. Schools and universities
All schools and universities in Poland are closed. Lessons and classes are not held on site, but online using e-learning platforms. Distance learning is conducted according to specific rules. Teachers and students can find teaching materials consistent with the current core curriculum at www.gov.pl/zdalnelekcje.
In force until: 24 May 2020.
IMPORTANT! EXAMINATION SCHEDULE:
- Eighth-grader exam: 16–18 June 2020.
- Matura exam: 8–29 June 2020 (IMPORTANT! The oral exam will not take place)
- Exam confirming vocational qualifications (2012 and 2017 formats): 22 June–9 July 2020.
- Vocational examination (2019 format): 17–28 August 2020.
18. Nurseries and preschools
The operation of nurseries, children’s clubs and preschools is suspended until 24 May 2020. Detailed proposals concerning forms of childcare will be presented in the last week of April. The issue of parents’ payments during the suspension should be regulated in the nursery’s statutes and in the agreement with the parents.
In force until: 24 May 2020.
19. Catering
All restaurants, cafés and bars may provide only takeaway and delivery services. Meals and drinks may not be served for consumption on the premises.
20. Culture, gyms, swimming pools, fitness and dance clubs
All cultural institutions remain closed. These include museums, art galleries, theatres, philharmonic halls, opera houses, cinemas, film clubs, libraries, archives and ongoing cultural activities. Gyms, swimming pools, fitness clubs and dance clubs also remain closed.
21. Quarantine
The restriction applies to people who:
- are returning from abroad
- have had contact with people infected with (or potentially infected with) the coronavirus
- cross the border to take up work in a neighbouring country or in Poland (from 27 March 2020)
- live with a person who will be sent into quarantine from 1 April (the provision enters into force on 1 April 2020 and applies to people newly placed under quarantine).
What does it involve? Quarantine lasts 14 days. During this time:
- under no circumstances may you leave your home
- walking the dog, going to the shop or visiting a doctor is prohibited
- if the person under quarantine has close contact with other people at home, they must also be placed under quarantine
- if symptoms of illness occur (feeling unwell, fever, cough or shortness of breath), this must be reported by telephone to the sanitary and epidemiological station.
If a person under quarantine cannot spend it at home, the governors have premises designated for quarantine where that person may stay.
Important! As part of their patrols, the police visit people under quarantine and check whether they remain at their place of residence. The regulations provide for a fine of up to PLN 30,000 for people who do not comply with quarantine. The amount of the fine is always determined individually. If you are returning from abroad and cannot spend quarantine at home, the governors have premises designated for quarantine.
22. Hotels and other accommodation facilities
Hotels and other accommodation facilities are closed. They may remain open only for:
- people in quarantine or isolation
- medical personnel
- people on business trips and those using accommodation services as part of their professional duties (this applies, for example, to construction workers)
- people who were accommodated at the facility before 31 March.
Important! If you were staying at a hotel before the new regulations entered into force, you may complete your stay as planned.
Legal basis
- Regulation of the Council of Ministers of 19 April 2020 on establishing certain restrictions, orders and bans in connection with the occurrence of an epidemichttps://dziennikustaw.gov.pl/DU/2020/697
- Regulation of the Council of Ministers of 26 April 2020 amending the regulation on establishing certain restrictions, orders and bans in connection with the occurrence of an epidemichttps://dziennikustaw.gov.pl/DU/2020/750
- Regulation of the Minister of National Education of 10 April 2020 amending the regulation on special solutions during the temporary limitation of the operation of education system units in connection with the prevention, counteracting and combating of COVID-19https://dziennikustaw.gov.pl/DU/2020/657
- Regulation of the Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy of 10 April 2020 on the temporary limitation of the operation of childcare arrangements for children under 3 in connection with the prevention, counteracting and combating of COVID-19https://dziennikustaw.gov.pl/DU/2020/657
- Regulation of the Minister of Science and Higher Education of 9 April 2020 amending the regulation on the temporary limitation of the operation of certain entities of the higher education and science system in connection with the prevention, counteracting and combating of COVID-19https://dziennikustaw.gov.pl/DU/2020/643
- Regulation of the Council of Ministers of 24 April 2020 on specifying a longer period for receiving the care allowance to counteract COVID-19https://dziennikustaw.gov.pl/DU/2020/749
- Regulation of the Council of Ministers of 23 April 2020 on bans in air traffichttps://dziennikustaw.gov.pl/DU/rok/2020/pozycja/734
- Regulation of the Minister of the Interior and Administration of 9 April 2020 amending the regulation on the temporary restoration of border controls for people crossing the state border constituting an internal borderhttps://dziennikustaw.gov.pl/DU/2020/650