People will no longer be required to cover their mouths and noses when outdoors in public places as well as in some indoor environments beginning May 30, Morawiecki told a news conference.
Meanwhile, cinemas, theatres and other entertainment venues as well as sports facilities such as swimming pools and gyms will be allowed to reopen from June 6 as part of the fourth stage of easing restrictions, he added.
But potential hot spots such as clubs and discos will have to remain closed for now, officials said as they outlined details of how the country plans to lift more of its COVID-19 containment measures.
In another move to ease coronavirus curbs, all restrictions will be removed on how many people can gather in places such as retail outlets, restaurants and churches as long as they wear face coverings and maintain social distancing, Morawiecki said.
Public gatherings of up to 150 people will be allowed from Saturday, Morawiecki told reporters, adding that the government was also giving the go-ahead for weddings attended by up to 150 guests to be held with new safety protocols in place.
Deputy Prime Minister and Culture Minister Piotr Gliński said that venues such as theatres and concert halls were being given the green light to reopen to the public, but only up to 50 percent of their capacity and with social distancing and face covering rules.
Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Culture Minister Piotr Gliński. Photo: PAP/Marcin Obara
A total of 22,303 people have tested positive for the COVID-19 disease in Poland, with 1,025 deaths from the coronavirus so far, public health officials said on Wednesday morning.
Polish Health Minister Łukasz Szumowski. Photo: PAP/Marcin Obara
The first infection was confirmed by Polish authorities on March 4, while the country's first coronavirus fatality was announced on March 12.
A swathe of lockdown restrictions have since been eased.
Poland efficient in curbing virus: PM
Morawiecki said on Wednesday that when the first case of coronavirus infection was reported in Poland almost three months ago, his government set itself the goal of delaying the wave of the outbreak to make sure there were enough hospital beds, ventilators and other medical equipment to treat patients.
“This goal has been achieved,” he told reporters.
He cited data according to which Poland had 27 coronavirus deaths per 1 million residents, compared with 101 in neighbouring Germany, 580 in Spain, and 806 in Belgium.
He argued that “these data vividly show that we have controlled the disease, the coronavirus pandemic, in a much more efficient way than some of the wealthiest countries in the world.”
(gs/pk)
Source: IAR, TVP Info