Covid-19: new restrictions in HoReCa from 15 December ?
Wpis dostępny jest także w języku:
polski
In connection with the upcoming holidays and the Omicron mutation, Health Minister Adam Niedzielski announced the new epidemic restrictions during a special press conference on 7 December. Occupancy rates in restaurants, bars and hotels will be lowered from the current 50% to 30% from 15 December. Discotheques, clubs and venues providing places to dance will also be closed. Increasing this limit, as before, will still be possible – only for people vaccinated and verified by the operator.
In Poland, 28,542 coronavirus infections were reported in the last 24 hours. A report released Wednesday by the Health Ministry shows that another 592 people have died. The number of deaths in Poland during the fourth wave of the outbreak has reached a record high. There are 23,453 patients in hospital, of which 2,026 are under ventilation. With the holidays and Omicron mutation approaching, Health Minister Adam Niedzielski has unveiled a package of restrictions that will take effect on December 15. A number of restrictions will again hit the HoReCa industry.
The current 50% occupancy rate in restaurants, bars and hotels will be replaced by a 30% limit
The lifting of this restriction, as before, can only apply to people who have been vaccinated and confirmed by the operator. On New Year’s Eve, however, gatherings of up to 100 people are allowed. As of December 15, discos, clubs and other places where dancing is allowed will be closed.
The latest steps in the fight against the pandemic also include:
- Changes in the organization of vaccinations so that vaccination points located in large shopping malls can vaccinate without prior appointment.
- Work on the bill, on which the Ministry is working together with the Law and Justice party and consists in entitling the employer to expect the employee to show the test result – these will be quick antigen tests, for free. Employees will be able to sign up for the free test through a form that the ministry has promised to introduce on its website. The minister stressed that in this case, there will be no obligation to undergo a default quarantine, as there is in the case of referral by a doctor. The rules for verification of vaccination certificates still need to be regulated before the law comes into force.
- Mandatory vaccinations for three professional groups – medics, teachers and uniformed services. This obligation should come into force on 1 March.
The HoReCa market (hotel catering, restaurant catering) in Poland has been on a strong growth path for many years. The year 2020 – as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic – broke the streak of year-on-year growth, and the market recorded a 31% year-on-year decline, according to the report “HoReCa market in Poland 2021. Market analysis and development forecasts for 2021-2026“, a cyclical publication by PMR. A return to the market value of 2019 will only be possible in 2024 with the recovery of tourism, social life, business, economic situation of consumers.
