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Poland to scrap face masks, COVID-19 isolation: health minister

24.03.2022 11:30
Poland will lift the requirement for people to wear face masks in enclosed spaces and will also abolish COVID-19 isolation and quarantine rules for those sharing households with infected persons, Health Minister Adam Niedzielski said on Thursday.
Polands Health Minister Adam Niedzielski speaks at a news conference in Warsaw on Thursday.
Poland's Health Minister Adam Niedzielski speaks at a news conference in Warsaw on Thursday.Photo: PAP/Paweł Supernak

"I have decided to introduce two changes beginning March 28," Niedzielski announced at a news conference.

"The first change is an end to the requirement to wear masks, except in healthcare facilities," he said.

"The second decision is to abolish home isolation and quarantine for household members and all quarantines for travelers arriving in Poland," he added.

Poland lifted a host of other COVID-19 restrictions at the start of this month after the government said the coronavirus pandemic was easing in the country.

Niedzielski told reporters on Thursday that a mounting refugee crisis triggered by Russia's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine "has not led to an increase in coronavirus infections" even though more than 2.2 million people have arrived in Poland from that country since February 24.

Poland on Thursday reported 8,994 new coronavirus infections and 146 more deaths related to COVID-19, bringing the country's total number of cases during the pandemic to 5,924,876 and fatalities to 114,626.

Poland has welcomed 2.2 million refugees fleeing Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Polish Border Guard agency said on Thursday.

(gs)

Source: IAR, PAP Reuters