Due to a spike in coronavirus cases in Poland, the Ministry of Health has introduced a set of new restrictions that are to become effective in the so-called red and yellow zones. "From Saturday on, Warsaw will almost certainly join the yellow zone" - said the spokesman for the health ministry Wojciech Andrusiewicz.
At a press conference on Tuesday, the Health Minister Adam Niedzielski and Chief of the Police Jarosław Szymczyk announced a "zero tolerance" policy against citizens not adhering to the coronavirus restrictions.
"Zero tolerance. New restrictions will come into force on Saturday, anyone not wearing a face mask in public, anyone being an egoist - let's call it what it is, as brutal as it may sound - lack of care for the the life and health of their fellow countrymen is egoistical," Niedzielski stressed.
"Anyone not observing restrictions, rules and laws will be fined. There will be no tolerance for breaking regulations because today we are in a phase where the number of cases is growing dramatically," said the minister.
Moreover, Niedzielski and Szymczyk announced another set of restrictions aimed at containing the COVID-19 pandemic.
From Saturday (October 10) on, the following rules come into effect.
- bars and restaurants in the red zones will be allowed to operate only until 10pm
- wearing face masks will be compulsory not only in the red, but also in the yellow zones
Up to this point, restrictions regarding masks in the yellow zones were the same as in all unmarked areas of Poland.
"Only those with a medical certificate from a doctor can choose not to mask wear a mask where it is mandatory... any person who doesn't wear a mask (and doesn't have a certificate) will face the harshest of punishments," minister Niedzielski said.
Police Chief Szymczyk said that from Saturday on the police would be very strict when it comes to enforcing wearing masks, and only people with doctor certificates would be exempted. He also explained that it would be up to police officers to decide whether to caution a person or to issue a fine.
Poland on Wednesday reported a daily record of 3,003 new coronavirus cases as well as a record of 75 deaths.
The spokesperson for the health ministry Wojciech Andrusiewicz said on Wednesday there would be at least 100 further counties, including many cities, that would soon have stricter coronavirus rules imposed.
"Let's face it, it's 99-percent certain that starting Saturday Warsaw will become a yellow zone, and so I remind everyone that on Friday night wearing masks in Warsaw will be mandatory" - Andrusiewicz said.
At the moment, there are 51 counties and cities with county rights marked either as a yellow (34) or red (17) zone.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, PAP