Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said his government would present a new package of pandemic restrictions this week in response to the new Omicron coronavirus variant and was considering how to handle the approaching Christmas holidays.
At a press conference on Monday, the prime minister was asked about the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, and if the government was considering introducing "COVID passports".
"On Tuesday, or on Wednesday at the latest, we will present a second package of restrictions, in response to the Christmas holidays, as well as the Omicron coronavirus variant. It really doesn't look good," Morawiecki said. "There's a lot of deaths, especially among unvaccinated people," he added.
Morawiecki announced "enforcing vaccination mechanisms and making them compulsory in some professions". "We will also discuss tightening restrictions for unvaccinated people in certain locations in order to respond to the Omicron variant, which most likely is already in Poland," he stressed.
Pandemic restrictions in Poland are relatively limited. They include the wearing of masks in enclosed spaces and limits on the number of people allowed into public venues such as restaurants.
Only 54% of Poles are fully vaccinated, lower than the 66.4% average in the European Union.
Amid concerns over the new variant, on December 1 Poland banned flights to seven African countries, extended the quarantine period for some travellers and reduced limits on numbers allowed into shops or bars.
The health ministry reported 13,250 new coronavirus infections on Monday and 25 COVID-related deaths, but numbers are usually lower after the weekend.
Poland, with a total population of 38 million, has recorded more than three and a half million COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic and 85,700 deaths.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, Reuters, PAP
Źródło zdjęcia głównego: TVN24