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Poland extends internal border controls until May 13

04.05.2020 10:40
Poland has extended internal border controls with Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Lithuania until May 13, officials have announced, amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Photo:
Photo:PAP/Darek Delmanowicz

According to the gov.pl website, Poland will keep full border checks for another 10 days, from May 4 to 13, following a decision signed by Interior Minister Mariusz Kamiński.

Poland’s borders can only be crossed at designated places, the schengenvisainfo.com website has reported.

At the moment, 42 crossings are available along the country’s land borders: 18 on the border with the Czech Republic, 16 with Germany, five with Slovakia, and three with Lithuania, according to the website.

Border controls are also being carried out at four Polish seaports and 17 airports, the website said.

It cited Poland’s Ministry of the Interior and Administration as saying in a statement that "restrictions on foreigners" were being maintained "at border crossings, both on the internal and external border ... when entering Poland."

Meanwhile, Polish citizens, their spouses and children, permanent and temporary residents, foreign diplomats and their families are free to enter the country without restrictionsschengenvisainfo.com reported.

Poland in mid-March temporarily closed its borders to non-residents in a move to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said ahead of the move: “With the security of the Polish people in mind, we will introduce full controls at all our borders … initially for 10 days, with a possible extension to 20 days and then by another month."

Most international flights and train services remain suspended.

In a move to ease its lockdown measures, Poland on Monday lifted the 14-day quarantine requirement for citizens working and studying across the border in Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Lithuania.

A total of 13,937 people have tested positive for the COVID-19 disease in Poland, with 683 deaths from the coronavirus so far, public health officials said on Monday morning.

(gs)

Source: gov.pl, schengenvisainfo.com