Minister of Health Adam Niedzielski:

  • The existing restrictions will be extended in 5 provinces: Lower Silesian, Silesian, Greater Poland, Łódź and Opole. The epidemiological situation there remains difficult.
  • In the remaining 11 provinces, hybrid education will be restored for grades 1–3. From 26 April, hairdressing salons, beauty salons and cosmetology salons will also reopen in these 11 provinces.
  • Information about the catering and hotel industries, as well as communions and weddings, will be presented next week.
  • Information on the possibility of lifting the obligation to cover the mouth and nose outdoors will be presented in a week.
  • After the May holiday weekend, cultural institutions and facilities will probably reopen.

Government decisions:

Recently, we have observed a decline in the number of infections. However, there are still places on the map of Poland where the average daily number of cases is too high for restrictions to be eased. These are provinces where the average daily number of infections exceeded 35 per 100,000 inhabitants, and the restrictions will be extended in those provinces.

The restrictions will be extended in the following provinces:

  • Silesian,
  • Lower Silesian,
  • Greater Poland,
  • Łódź,
  • Opole.

In the 11 provinces where the average daily number of infections does not exceed 35 per 100,000 inhabitants, we have decided to ease the restrictions from 26 April. These provinces are:

  • Podlaskie,
  • Podkarpackie,
  • Warmian-Masurian,
  • Lublin,
  • Pomeranian,
  • Lubusz,
  • Świętokrzyskie,
  • Masovian,
  • Kuyavian-Pomeranian,
  • West Pomeranian,
  • Lesser Poland.

Easing of restrictions in 11 provinces – hairdressing and beauty salons, partial return to schools

We have decided to ease restrictions in 11 provinces across the country. From 26 April, this will include the reopening of hairdressing and beauty salons, as well as the partial return of children in grades 1–3 to schools, under a hybrid system. The remaining restrictions will be extended. Check what will change!

  • Hairdressing, beauty and cosmetology salons will be allowed to open to customers from 26 April. These establishments will be able to operate under a strict sanitary regime.
  • Partial return to schools for children in grades 1–3 of primary schools – from 26 April, children in grades 1–3 of primary schools will switch to hybrid learning.

Other safety rules – unchanged

We are extending the existing restrictions – they apply both to the 11 provinces with a lower rate of daily cases and to 5 provinces (Silesian, Lower Silesian, Opole, Łódź and Greater Poland) where restrictions are not being eased. Hotels will remain closed until 3 May.

In Silesian, Lower Silesian, Opole, Łódź and Greater Poland, hairdressing and beauty salons also remain closed. Children in all grades are learning remotely.

Retail – restrictions

  • Large furniture and building-supply stores with an area of more than 2,000 m² will remain closed.
  • Shopping centres and malls remain closed, as they are currently, except for, among others, grocery stores, pharmacies and drugstores, newsstands and bookshops.

In retail outlets, at markets and post offices, customer limits apply:

  • 1 person per 15 m² – in stores of up to 100 m²,
  • 1 person per 20 m² – in stores larger than 100 m².

Religious worship

  • A limit on the number of people applies in places of religious worship – there must be 20 m² per person.
  • The obligation to cover the mouth and nose and to keep 1.5 m away from other people remains unchanged.

Education

  • Students in primary and secondary schools, learners at continuing-education institutions and students at vocational education centres are studying remotely. Attention! In the 11 provinces where restrictions are being eased, children in grades 1–3 of primary schools will learn in a hybrid system from 26 April.
  • Nurseries and preschools operate normally.

Culture

  • Theatres, cinemas, museums and art galleries remain closed.

Hotels

  • They remain closed until 3 May.
  • Exceptions include, among others, workers’ hotels, as well as accommodation provided as part of certain business trips – for example, for medical personnel, drivers performing road transport and soldiers.

Sport

  • Children and young people may participate in sports competitions organized by the relevant Polish sports association.
  • Sport may also be practised at outdoor sports facilities, subject to a limit of 25 people, including children, young people and adults.
  • The activities of other sports facilities, including sports halls and indoor pitches, remain restricted exclusively to professional sport, as before. All events may take place without spectators.
  • Gyms, fitness clubs, swimming pools, saunas and tanning salons remain closed, among others. Exceptions to the rules are specified in the regulation.

Safety rules – protect yourself and your loved ones

Easing restrictions does not mean that the fight against coronavirus is over. We still need to remember the safety rules. Therefore, we remind you:

  • Wear a mask
  • Avoid large gatherings
  • Keep a distance of at least 1.5 m from other people
  • Wash or disinfect your hands
  • Ventilate rooms
  • Download the STOP COVID – ProteGO Safe app

Remember, how quickly we overcome coronavirus depends only on us. Our behaviour affects not only our health and lives, but may also determine the fate of other people.