The restrictions were announced in the run-up to the Christmas holidays and winter school break by Poland's health minister Adam Niedzielski.
During this period stores at shopping malls will be closed, with the exception of groceries and pharmacies.
Hotels and boarding houses are closed to the public, but remain available to law enforcement services, medics and patients of specialized hospitals.
Ski slopes have to suspend operation.
Anyone arriving in Poland on organized transport between December 28 and January 17 will have to undergo a 10-day quarantine.
It was initially said that a curfew was imposed on New Year's Eve, with restrictions on free movement from 7pm on December 31 to 6am on January 1. However on Sunday Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced that there would be no curfew, nonetheless adding an appeal for people to stay home.
The new set of curbs comes after tougher measures to battle COVID-19 took effect across Poland last month following a surge in cases amid a second wave of the pandemic.
As part of the new restrictions, schools and universities throughout the country returned to distance learning. Moreover, children under 16 are only allowed to leave their homes under the supervision of an adult between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Special shopping hours between 10 a.m. and noon were introduced for people aged over 60.
Theatres, cinemas, museums, galleries and gyms have remained closed. Restaurants, cafes and other food establishments are only allowed to provide take-aways and delivery orders.
Gatherings of more than five people have been forbidden, though people who live or work together are exempt from the rule. These rules were relaxed over the Christmas holidays, traditionally a family time in Poland.
The obligation to cover mouths and noses when outdoors in public places as well as in most indoor environments nationwide has been in place since October.
Source: IAR, PAP
