Amid fears of an increase in COVID-19 cases and the discovery of a new variant of Omicron, Poland’s Deputy Health Minister Waldemar Kraska announced that starting next Wednesday, December 15, travelers from non-European Union countries will have to undergo testing before entering Poland.
However, it was clarified that the testing requirement will only apply to travelers from third countries who have not received a full vaccination or have not recovered from COVID-19 disease.
This means that those who have completed the vaccination process and those who have previously been infected with the virus are included in the exclusion list. Children under 12 years of age who travel with a vaccinated or recovered guardian are also exempt from testing.
Currently, Poland only recognizes PCR and rapid antigen tests, which must be done within 48 hours of entry.
In contrast, stricter entry measures apply to travelers who have not been vaccinated or recovered from the virus. From December 1, travelers who do not have a vaccination or recovery certificate are subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine. The quarantine period can be shortened by taking a second test on the eighth day.
“Travelers subject to quarantine in Poland will be able to pass a test no earlier than on the 8th day, counting from the day following the day of crossing the border, the negative result of which means exemption from quarantine,” the Polish government said in a statement.
The quarantine requirement does not apply to those who leave the territory of Poland within 24 hours after entry.
In addition to the aforementioned requirements, every person, regardless of their country of origin, must complete an entry form before arriving in Poland.
Despite the fact that Poland has not yet registered a single case of infection with omicronic infection, data from the World Health Organization (WHO) show that 163 67 new cases of COVID-19 infection have been registered in the country over the past seven days.
In terms of vaccination rates, data from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) show that as of December 8, more than 20.6 million people have been fully vaccinated against the virus.
In addition to changes affecting foreign travelers, the Polish authorities announced that the tightening of restrictions will affect the citizens of the country. Starting December 15, the current 75% occupancy limit for restaurants, bars, hotels, theaters, hotels and some other places will be reduced to 50%.
However, fully vaccinated Polish citizens and travelers will not face any restrictions.