Lublin Coronavirus Update, May 15

COVID-19 Update:

• 235 new cases reported in Poland
• 1 new case in Lublin Region
• 17 850 people infected in total
• 893 deaths in total

Useful information:

Further restrictions will be lifted on May 18.

You will be able to visit hairdresser, beautician and restaurant

The third, penultimate stage of lifting restrictions is ahead of us. From Monday, May 18, we will be able to use the services of a hairdresser and beautician, as well as go to restaurants and cafes. We will reach these places faster because we are raising the passenger limit in public transport. In addition, from May 25, direct consultation with teachers for students who are taking matura exam and pupils of the eighth grade will be possible, as well as care for children in grades 1-3 in primary schools. We are slowly returning to a normal life. However, it will not be like before the pandemic. Therefore, we must remember to take care of ourselves and be careful!

Business activities - beauty and hair salons as well as restaurants will be opened. From May 18 we will be able to:

• use the services of beauticians and hairdressers,
• eat in a restaurant, cafe, bar, as well as in a shopping centre (in a separate gastronomic space).

Note! The customer will be able to eat a meal both in the hall, inside and in the restaurant garden.

The full opening of the gastronomical industry must take place with respect to strict sanitary guidelines that ensure safety and service for customers. These principles were determined during consultations with representatives of individual industries. 

Recommendations for beauty parlours include:

• the obligation for customers to wear masks, goggles, or helmets (at the hairdresser's and in the beauty salon),
• use of disposable towels where it is possible,
• serve customers by appointment by phone or online.

Note! The customer cannot wait for the service in the waiting room.

The requirements and recommendations for gastronomy include:

• limit of people in the premises (there must be at least 4 m2 per person),
• table disinfection after each client,
• 2 m distance between tables.
  Note! The tabletops can be moved away from each other by 1 m, provided that the tables are separated by additional partitions with a minimum height of 1 m above the tabletop,
• maintaining 1.5 m from guests sitting at separate tables,
• wearing masks and gloves by chefs and restaurant staff.

Note! Restaurant guests can take off their masks if they are already sitting at the tables.

Social life – childcare at schools, consultation with teachers and changes in public transport
 

Childcare and Education (from May 18, from May 25 and from June 1)

From May 18, it will be possible to conduct:

• practical classes in post-secondary schools,
• revalidation and educational classes as well as early development support and specialist revalidation.

On Monday, May 18, institutions and facilities with accommodation and care as well as educational activities will also be opened. These are e.g. youth hostels, sports centres, or community centres.

From May 25, it will be able to:

• conduct care and educational classes in grades 1-3 of primary school

Note! Care and upbringing classes can be combined with educational classes. The obligation to implement the core curriculum will be maintained. Depending on the situation at a given school, the headmaster will decide whether it will be stationary or remote learning methods and techniques. The Ministry of National Education will provide details of sanitary guidelines for schools, soon. Consultations with teachers in schools for students taking matura exam and students of 8 grade, mainly in subjects taken during exams. Consultations will be able to take place individually or in small groups.

Note! The care allowance for parents of children under 8 years old will be extended.

From June 1 - consultations at schools with teachers for other students in all subjects.

Note! From May 17, children under the age of 13 will be able to leave the house without an adult supervision!

Religious services (from May 17)

Restrictions, related to the stay of the faithful in places of worship and at other religious ceremonies, will be reduced. From Sunday, May 17, during mass or other religious ceremony, there must be 10 m2 per participant (before it has been 15 m2).

Sport (from May 18)

From May 18, the limits of people who can practice at open sports facilities will be increased:

• at stadiums, pitches, ski jumps, tracks, football fields (orliki), skate parks - there can be a maximum of 14 people (+ 2 trainers),
• on open full-size football fields - a maximum of 22 people can stay (+ 4 coaches).

Note! We also introduce the possibility of dividing a football field into two halves separated by a safety buffer. If we separate a 5-meter buffer zone, then 16 people + 3 trainers can be in one half at a time. In total, 32 people (+ 6 coaches) can stay on this full-size football pitch.

On May 18, we will also enable the organisation of classes in closed facilities. In sports halls at the same time will be able to practice:

• 12 people + coach (in buildings up to 300 m2),
• 16 people + 2 coaches (in facilities from 301 to 800 m2),
• 24 people + 2 coaches (in facilities from 801 to 1000 m2),
• 32 people + 3 coaches (in facilities over 1000 m2).

Note! In closed facilities, it will not be possible to use the dressing room or the sanitary facility (except for the lavatory). There is an obligation to disinfect the devices after each class.

Universities (from May 25)

There is a will to restore classes at universities:

• for students before graduation,
• or classes which can not be conducted remotely.

Return to classes also applies to the education of doctoral students and classes organised e.g. in laboratories and a medical simulation centre.

Do not forget to take care of ourselves - the most important permanent safety principles.

The gradual abolition of restrictions does not release us from respecting the basic safety principles. Quite the opposite - they must become the basis of our daily functioning.

What should you keep in mind especially?

• Keep 2 meters away from others in public spaces,
• Cover your nose and mouth in public areas,
• Work remotely whenever possible,
• Stay home if you can.

Strictly follow sanitary rules in places where there are a lot of people. Especially in restaurants, at the hairdresser's or beautician's.

Border control extended until June 12 this year.

Border control at the internal border (with Germany, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia) is extended by 30 days - from May 14 until June 12 this year. As before, the border could only be crossed at designated places. Checks will also continue at seaports and airports.

Due to the persistent threat of coronavirus, Poland has now used Art. 25 paragraph 1 of the Schengen Borders Code. Regarding to that provision, in the event of a serious threat to public policy or internal security, a Member State may exceptionally reintroduce border control at internal borders for a limited period not exceeding 30 days or for the foreseeable existence of that serious threat if it exceeds 30 days. The internal border can be crossed in 42 designated places on the land:

1. with the Czech Republic - 18,
2. with Slovakia - 5,
3. with Germany - 16,
4. with Lithuania - 3.

Border control is also carried out in 4 seaports and 17 airports. As before, border control will be carried out by the Border Guard, whose activities are supported by policemen, firefighters, and soldiers. At border crossings  both on the internal and external border - restrictions on foreigners are maintained when entering Poland. Restrictions are connected to the spread of coronavirus.

In terms of passenger traffic on entry to Poland at land border crossing points as well as at air and sea border crossing points the state border can be crossed by:

• Citizens of Poland,
• foreigners who are spouses or children of Polish citizens or remain under the constant care of Polish citizens,
• foreigners holding a Polish Card,
• heads of diplomatic missions and members of the mission's diplomatic and consular staff, i.e. persons with a diplomatic rank and members of their families,
• foreigners who have the right of permanent or temporary residence on the territory of the Republic of Poland,
• foreigners who have the right to work in the territory of the Republic of Poland, i.e. foreigners entitled to work under the same conditions as Polish citizens, who have a work permit, a certificate of entry in the register regarding seasonal work, a statement on entrusting work to a foreigner on the territory of the Republic of Poland, who:

1. perform work on the territory of the Republic of Poland or present documents showing that taking up work will start immediately after crossing the border;
2. foreigners who run a means of transport for the transport of persons or goods, and their transit takes place as part of their professional activities involving the transport of goods or the transport of persons;

• in particularly justified cases, the commander of the Border Guard post, after obtaining the consent of the Commander-in-Chief of the Border Guard, may allow foreigners, other than those indicated above, to enter the territory of the Republic of Poland.