Poles flock to churches as virus rules loosen

Many Poles flocked to churches on Sunday as the country moved to the next phase of easing its coronavirus lockdown.

People attend a service at a Catholic church in Piekary Śląskie, southern Poland, on Sunday.

Photo: PAP/Andrzej Grygiel

Catholic shrines around the country threw their doors wide open to worshippers after weeks of restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Poland’s Roman Catholic Church leaders in mid-March suspended the obligation to attend Sunday Mass and urged the faithful to stay home amid a coronavirus outbreak.

Poland has now lifted all restrictions on how many people can gather in places of worship though social distancing guidelines still apply.

Under new rules, people are no longer required to cover their mouths and noses when outdoors in public places as well as in some indoor environments.

🇵🇱❗️The fourth stage of easing the #coronavirus restrictions in #Poland enters into force mostly from May 30th. It includes, for example, lifting the obligation to cover the nose and mouth in public, as well as reopening some cultural, sports and recreation facilities. ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/pJdXkeO04O

— Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland (@PremierRP_en) May 27, 2020

About 93 percent of Poles declare themselves to be Catholics, according to the country's Catholic Church Statistics Institute.

A relaxation of coronavirus lockdown rules in Poland has not triggered a spike in infections so far, a health ministry spokesman said earlier this month.

(gs)

Source: IAR, TVP Info