RESTRICTIONS ON MOVEMENT
1.5 METRES – THE MINIMUM DISTANCE BETWEEN PEDESTRIANS
The obligation to maintain a distance of at least 1.5 metres between pedestrians.
The following are exempt from this obligation:
- parents with children requiring care (up to 13 years of age),
- people living together or sharing a household,
- people with disabilities who cannot move independently, people with a certificate confirming the need for special education, and their carers.
COVERING THE MOUTH AND NOSE IN PUBLIC PLACES
Covering the mouth and nose in public places is mandatory throughout the country.
The mouth and nose must be covered, among other places:
- on streets, roads and squares, in cemeteries, on promenades, boulevards, in vehicle stopping areas and forest car parks,
- on buses, trams and trains,
- in shops, shopping centres, banks, markets and post offices,
- at the workplace if more than one person is in the room. Introducing this rule depends on the employer’s decision,
- at the workplace during direct service of a customer/client,
- in cinemas and theatres,
- at a doctor’s office, clinic, hospital, massage parlour and tattoo studio,
- in churches and schools, at universities
- in offices (if you go there to handle a matter) and other public buildings.
Where is it not necessary to cover the mouth and nose? In forests, parks, green areas, botanical gardens, historic gardens, allotment gardens and on beaches, as well as while travelling in a private car.
At the workplace for the purpose of eating a meal.
Important! Only people holding a medical certificate or a document confirming the following are exempt from the obligation to cover their mouth and nose:
- pervasive developmental disorders,
- mental disorders,
- moderate, severe or profound intellectual disability,
- difficulty independently putting on or removing a mouth or nose covering.
MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE
Important! A ban on movement is in force from 19:00 on 31 December 2020 to 6:00 on 1 January 2021
Exceptions include performing official or professional duties, conducting business activity, and meeting essential needs related to current everyday matters.
Children and young people up to 16 years of age
Between 8:00 and 16:00, Monday to Friday, children and young people up to 16 years of age must travel under the supervision of a parent or carer. Exceptions:
- getting to school or an educational institution,
- getting to the place where an examination confirming vocational qualifications or a vocational examination is held,
- in the case of minors undertaking practical vocational training – getting to the place where the training is held and returning from it to their place of residence,
- travel as part of training camps for students of sports championship schools and sports championship classes,
- travel as part of day camps,
- weekends.
In force until: 17 January 2021.
Seniors
Senior, stay at home! We appeal to seniors—especially those over 70—to limit their movement. Exceptions are situations connected with:
- performing professional duties,
- meeting essential needs related to current everyday matters,
- conducting or participating in religious worship, including religious activities or rites.
In force until further notice.
QUARANTINE
The restriction applies to people who:
- cross the Polish border constituting the EU’s external border,*
- cross the Polish border by organised transport (from 28 December),**
- have had contact with people infected with (or potentially infected with) coronavirus,
- have been referred for a COVID-19 test by a primary-care or night-care doctor.
* The external border is defined by Article 2(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/399 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March on a Union Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code) (OJ EU L 77, 23.03.2016, p. 1, as amended).
** This applies to people who crossed Poland’s border (both the EU’s external and internal border) by plane, bus or another means of collective transport. The restriction is in force from 28 December 2020 to 17 January 2021.
The list of people exempt from mandatory quarantine when crossing the EU’s external border is set out in the Regulation of the Council of Ministers of 21 December 2020 on establishing certain restrictions, orders and prohibitions in connection with the occurrence of an epidemic.
Check on the Border Guard website who is exempt from quarantine after crossing the Polish border.
Important! From 28 December, people vaccinated against COVID-19 are exempt from mandatory quarantine (on the basis of a certificate confirming protective vaccination against COVID-19).
What does it involve?
The applicable rules concern:
- quarantine (separation of a healthy person due to exposure to infection);
- isolation (separation of a person whose first diagnostic SARS-CoV-2 test result is positive).
Isolation:
Home isolation lasts 10 days if the patient has not developed COVID-19 symptoms.
If coronavirus symptoms develop during home isolation, the primary-care doctor decides to extend the isolation, which may end no earlier than 13 days after the symptoms appear.
In the case of hospital isolation or isolation in an isolation facility, the attending doctor decides when isolation ends. It may end no earlier than 13 days after symptoms appear, and the last 3 days must be symptom-free.
Quarantine:
Quarantine lasts 10 days if no COVID-19 symptoms occur during it. Asymptomatic people in quarantine are no longer tested.
If a person has not had direct contact with someone infected with coronavirus, they will not be referred for quarantine. Under current law, people living with a person in quarantine are no longer subject to quarantine.
A person living with someone infected with SARS-CoV-2 (a positive test result) must undergo quarantine from the day the positive test result is obtained until 7 days after the infected person’s isolation ends.
The quarantine obligation does not apply to a person practising a medical profession. From 28 December, people vaccinated against COVID-19 also do not have to undergo mandatory quarantine.
During this period:
- you may not leave your home,
- walking the dog, going to a shop or seeing a doctor is prohibited,
- if symptoms of illness occur (feeling unwell, fever, cough, shortness of breath), contact a clinic and arrange a teleconsultation with your primary-care doctor.
Important! As part of patrols, the Police visit people subject to quarantine and check whether they remain at their place of residence. The regulations allow a fine of up to PLN 30,000 to be imposed on people who fail to comply with quarantine. The decision on the specific amount of the fine is always made individually.
Attention! Quarantine is suspended for the time needed to take a test ordered by a primary-care or night-care doctor (the journey to the swab-collection site and return home). Since 28 November, quarantine or isolation is also suspended when a doctor’s visit is necessary. In these situations, there is no obligation to report to the sanitary services.
In force until: 17 January 2021.
SOCIAL LIFE
CULTURAL EVENTS – RESTRICTIONS
The activity of cultural institutions, including theatres, cinemas, museums, art galleries and community centres, is suspended.
Important! Since 28 November, libraries may operate subject to a limit of one person per 15 m² of the area intended for making collections available.
In force until: 17 January 2021.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
The number of people who may travel on public transport is limited.
Throughout the country, public transport may carry no more people at the same time than:
- 50% of the number of seats, or
- 30% of all seats and standing places, while leaving at least 50% of the seats unoccupied.
In force until: 17 January 2021.
RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES
Churches are subject to a limit of one person per 15 m², while maintaining a distance of at least 1.5 m. If the event takes place outdoors, a distance of 1.5 m must be maintained and the mouth and nose must be covered.
If the event takes place outdoors, a distance of 1.5 m must be maintained and the mouth and nose must be covered.
Important! In places of worship and religious buildings, covering the mouth and nose is mandatory, except for people conducting worship.
In force until: 17 January 2021.
ASSEMBLIES AND MEETINGS
A maximum of 5 people may participate in public assemblies. Participants must cover their nose and mouth and maintain a distance of 1.5 m from other people. In addition, the distance between assemblies may not be less than 100 m.
From 28 November a maximum of 5 people may participate in events and meetings organised at home; the person inviting people to the event and people living with or sharing a household with that person are not included in this limit.
In force until: 17 January 2021.
WEDDINGS, FIRST COMMUNIONS, FUNERALS AND OTHER CEREMONIES AND RECEPTIONS
Organising events of this type is prohibited.
In force until: 17 January 2021.
NIGHTCLUBS, DISCOS AND OTHER DANCE VENUES
Operating such venues is prohibited.
The exception is sports dance clubs.
In force until: 17 January 2021.
FAIRS, EXHIBITIONS, CONGRESSES AND CONFERENCES
Fairs, exhibitions, congresses and conferences may be held only online.
In force until: 17 January 2021.
CARE AND EDUCATION
EDUCATION
Students in all grades of primary and secondary schools, as well as learners at continuing education institutions and vocational education centres, study remotely.
Important! Preschools and nurseries operate without changes.
In force until: 3 January 2021.
NURSERIES AND PRESCHOOLS
Children of working parents may attend nurseries or preschools. The bodies responsible for running these institutions may operate them in accordance with the guidelines of the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate, the Ministry of National Education, and the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy.
Important! Due to the epidemiological situation, the body responsible for running a preschool may limit the group size or limit the number of children receiving care in nurseries.
Important! Under the existing general regulations, a local-government unit may close all nurseries and preschools in its area.
BORDERS AND INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL
POLISH BORDERS
Border traffic operates within the internal borders of the European Union in Poland. This means that travel and crossing the EU’s internal borders are permitted. Travellers have the right to freely enter, leave and transit through the territory of Poland. They do not have to undergo quarantine. When planning international travel, take into account the restrictions in force in the neighbouring country.
The restriction applies to foreigners crossing the EU’s external border.
Check on the Border Guard website who may enter Poland.
AIR TRAVEL
The restriction applies to international flights.
From 22 December to 6 January, civilian aircraft operating international flights are prohibited from landing if they depart from airports located in the territory of:
- Bosnia and Herzegovina;
- Montenegro;
- Georgia;
- the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan;
- the Republic of Armenia;
- the Republic of Kosovo;
- the Republic of North Macedonia;
- the Republic of Serbia;
- the United States of America, except airports located in Illinois and New York
- the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
The ban does not apply to flights chartered before 8 December 2020.
The flight ban also does not apply to countries that notified Poland of measures guaranteeing that only passengers with a negative SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic test result would be admitted on board. The list of such countries is announced by the minister responsible for foreign affairs in an official notice.
For both international and domestic flights, the following are required:
- providing hand disinfectant on board the aircraft,
- disinfecting the aircraft:
- once a day when carrying out flights with passengers,
- after every flight involving a sick person or a person suspected of having an infectious disease,
- before and after every passenger flight lasting at least 6 hours;
- providing passengers, through cabin crew, with passenger locator forms to complete for health purposes and collecting the completed forms when a passenger crosses the state border to travel to their place of residence or stay in Poland.
INTERNATIONAL RAIL TRANSPORT
International rail traffic currently operates within the internal borders of the European Union.
The restriction applies to international train journeys beyond the EU’s external borders.
ECONOMY
SHOPPING CENTRES AND LARGE-SCALE STORES
From 28 November, shopping centres and retail parks will open under a strict sanitary regime. Play areas are the exception, and their operation remains suspended.
Customer limits apply in shops, at markets and at post offices:
- 1 person per 10 m² – in shops up to 100 m²
- 1 person per 15 m² – in shops over 100 m²
In force until: 27 December 2020.
From 28 December the operation of shopping centres will be restricted. Only certain service outlets of essential importance for everyday life (e.g. hairdressing, beauty and medical services) will remain open, along with pharmacies, pharmacy outlets, shops selling food, cosmetics, toiletries and cleaning products, renovation and construction supplies, pet products, newspapers or books, and furniture, among others.
Customer limits apply in shops, at markets and at post offices:
- 1 person per 10 m² – in shops up to 100 m²
- 1 person per 15 m² – in shops over 100 m²
In force until: 17 January 2021.
SENIOR HOURS
From Monday to Friday, between 10:00 and 12:00, only people over 60 may be in shops, drugstores, pharmacies and post offices.
The exception is when a medicinal product, medical device or special-purpose food product is issued in a situation involving a threat to life or health.
Attention! Senior hours do not apply on 24 December.
In force until: 17 January 2021.
CATERING
On-premises restaurant service is prohibited. Only services involving the preparation and serving of takeaway food and delivery are permitted.
In force until: 17 January 2021.
Hotel restaurants
Hotels may operate restaurants, but only to provide meals to hotel guests in their rooms.
In force until: 17 January 2021.
HAIRDRESSING, BEAUTY AND TATTOO SALONS
Nationwide, beauty and tattoo salons, hairdressers and beauticians operate under a sanitary regime.
Service stations must be at least 1.5 m apart, unless a partition at least 2 m high from the floor is located between them.
Recommendations for beauty salons include, among other things:
- using disposable towels where possible;
- accepting clients only after an appointment has been made by phone or online.
Important! Only staff and clients being served may be present at a location where this activity is conducted (a maximum of one person per service station, excluding staff), and, if a client requires care, their carer may also be present.
Important! Despite restrictions on shopping centres and retail parks (from 28 December), hairdressing and beauty salons in these locations may operate under a sanitary regime.
In force until: 17 January 2021.
HOTELS
Hotel operations are restricted. Hotels are available only to:
- guests travelling on business,
- athletes during training camps and sports competitions,
- people practising a medical profession—in connection with the so-called “Hotel for Medical Professionals”
- patients and their carers, if the need to provide them with accommodation results from the conditions specified for a given healthcare service (e.g. oncology and dialysis patients and young patients accompanied by adults).
Employee hotels may also operate.
In force until: 27 December 2020.
From 28 December, hotel operations are restricted. Hotels are available only, among others, to:
- uniformed services,
- medical professionals,
- patients and their carers, to obtain healthcare services from a healthcare provider,
- athletes, coaches and members of coaching staff using these services during training camps or sports competitions,
- aircraft crew members,
- drivers performing road transport,
- train crew members,
- examinees and other people involved in organising and conducting an examination confirming vocational qualifications or a vocational examination,
- legal representatives, defence counsel and representatives of parties, parties to criminal, civil and administrative court proceedings, and their statutory representatives,
- witnesses, expert witnesses and court interpreters on the day of a court hearing or case-file review and the preceding day,
- members of diplomatic missions, consular offices and representatives of international organisations and their family members, as well as other holders of diplomatic passports, in connection with their official duties.
Employee hotels are also an exception.
In force until: 17 January 2021.
SPORT AND RECREATION
GYMS, CLUBS AND FITNESS CENTRES, SWIMMING POOLS AND AQUAPARKS
The operation of swimming pools, aquaparks, gyms, clubs and fitness centres is suspended, except for those that:
- operate within healthcare providers and are intended for patients,
- are intended for people engaged in sport as part of sports competition, sports classes or sporting events,
- are intended for students and pupils as part of classes at a university or school.
The ban also covers services related to improving physical fitness and wellbeing, including Turkish baths, saunas and steam baths, tanning salons, slimming salons, massage parlours and similar services.
In force until: 27 December 2020.
From 28 December, the operation of swimming pools, aquaparks, gyms, clubs and fitness centres is suspended. Exceptions are swimming pools, gyms, clubs and fitness centres:
- operating within healthcare providers and intended for patients,
- intended for members of the national teams of Polish sports associations.
In force until: 17 January 2021.
SPORTS DANCE CLUBS
Operating venues for dancing organised indoors or in other enclosed spaces is prohibited. Sports dance clubs are exempt from the ban.
In force until: 17 January 2021.
OUTDOOR TRAINING AND SPORTS COMPETITION
People participating in sports competition are exempt from the obligation to cover their mouth and nose.
People who participate in recreational sport are not exempt from this obligation, unless, for example, they run in forests, parks, green areas, botanical gardens, historic gardens, allotment gardens or on beaches.
In force until: 17 January 2021.
SPORTS COMPETITIONS AND EVENTS
Throughout the country, sports competition, sports classes and sporting events are organised without spectators.
No more than 250 participants may take part simultaneously in sports classes, sporting events and sports competitions (excluding golf courses, tennis courts, stables, stud farms and horse racing tracks, water-sports and air-sports infrastructure, which are not subject to the maximum-number-of-people restriction), not counting event staff.
Important! Until 27 December 2020, organising and conducting sporting events or sports competitions involving running, race walking or cycling is prohibited.
In force until: 27 December 2020.
From 28 December, sports competition, sports classes and sporting events may be organised only in professional sport. Events may take place without spectators.
In force until: 17 January 2021.
EXEMPTION FROM QUARANTINE FOR PARTICIPANTS IN INTERNATIONAL SPORTS COMPETITIONS
The exemption from quarantine for people from outside the EU applies to:
- athletes,
- coaching staff members,
- doctors and physiotherapists,
- referees,
- accredited journalists.
The exemption applies to people taking part in competitions organised by:
- an international sports federation operating in an Olympic or Paralympic sport, or another federation recognised by the International Olympic Committee,
- an international continental sports organisation belonging to a sports federation,
- a Polish sports association.
Important! People crossing the Polish border must present the Border Guard with a letter issued by the organiser of the sporting competition. This may also be a document, certified by the relevant Polish sports association, containing information about the competition, its date and the person’s role as a participant.
OLYMPIC PREPARATION CENTRES OPEN TO ATHLETES
Athletes may prepare for major international events at Olympic Preparation Centres (Spała, Wałcz, Zakopane, Cetniewo, Szczyrk and Giżycko).
SANATORIUMS, HEALTH RESORTS AND REHABILITATION
Sanatoriums and health-resort activity are suspended, with the possibility of completing courses that have already begun. Exceptions apply where stopping rehabilitation could result in a serious deterioration of the patient’s health.
In force until further notice.
source: gov.pl