Poland: Authorities impose further COVID-19 restrictions November 7 /update 20

Event

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has announced that tighter coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions will be imposed from Saturday, November 7, and warned that a full lockdown could be imposed in a week to ten days if cases do not plateau. Under the new measures, most shopping malls, theatres, museums, galleries, and cinemas will close. Pupils who are not already working remotely will be required to do so. Hotels will remain open only for business travel. Bars and restaurants have previously been ordered to close and the elderly have been asked to stay at home. Public gatherings of more than five people were prohibited from October 21. The wearing of face masks is mandatory in public places.

As of Wednesday, November 4, Poland has recorded 439,536 confirmed coronavirus cases since the beginning of the pandemic, and 6475 associated deaths. Further international spread of the disease is expected in the near term.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Since then, human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell, or a rash on the skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.