Poland to re-open shopping centres, hotels, kindergartens - PM
Poland will re-open shopping centres and hotels from May 4 and creches and kindergartens from May 6, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced at a press conference on Wednesday.
Shopping centres will have to observe a sanitary regime, with a limit of one person per 15 square metres of shopping area. Customers will have to wear masks and disposable gloves and keep the required two metre distance from another person.
However, no food courts or on-site catering services will be allowed to re-open yet. Fitness clubs, recreational areas and cinemas located in shopping centres will remain closed, as well.
Hotels will be allowed to re-open if they ensure that special safety measures are in place. Hotel restaurants and recreational areas will remain shut.
The prime minister said the government was thinking of re-opening restaurants "in further stages" of the unfreezing process.
Creches and kindergartens will be allowed to re-open from May 6, but each time the decision will be made by the facilities' founding authorities, Morawiecki announced, adding that the government will continue to provide care allowance for parents who are unable to send their children to a creche or kindergarten.
Medical rehabilitation services will be brought back from May 4.
The next stages of unfreezing the economy will be announced every fortnight, but some elements may be sped up, the prime minister also said.
Poland imposed the first coronavirus limitations on March 8. On March 20, a state of epidemic was announced, leading to the introduction of a general lockdown from March 24. On March 31, the government toughened restrictions on the movement of people.
On April 20, the government re-opened parks and forests to the public and eased the limits of shoppers in grocery markets. On April 25, Morawiecki announced that recreational sport activities will be allowed outdoors from May 4. Top league soccer games will return on May 29 and speedway races on June 12. (PAP)
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