Poland imposed new restrictions on businesses on March 25 after hitting a new daily high of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases but did not decide to limit people’s mobility or close down churches.

The new restrictions kick in from March 27 and will be in force until April 9 at least, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Health Minister Adam Niedzielski announced at a news conference.

Poland has been struggling to contain the third wave of the coronavirus pandemic since February. The government has been wary of a complete lockdown because of concerns about the economy.

But having recorded 34,151 new coronavirus cases – a new record since the onset of the pandemic in the country a year ago – and 520 deaths, the authorities said they had little choice but to tighten restrictions currently in force. 

"Poland is in the most difficult moment of the pandemic,” Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told a news conference.

Health Minister Niedzielski added that the UK variant of the coronavirus – which now dominates in the number of new infections – is not only more contagious but results in more people ending up in hospitals. That is testing the limits of Poland’s health care system – long under pressure from the pandemic on top of lack of stuff and funds.

Starting on March 27, large DIY and furniture stores will be closed. Other retail has been closed since February except for essential stores like groceries or pharmacies – which were now ordered to serve fewer customers at a time.

Barber shops, beauty salons will also close, as will sports venues except for professional athletes. The government also decided to close kindergartens and nurseries – only children of healthcare professionals and services like the police or the military will be provided care.

In a move that angered some experts and the opposition, the government did not close churches, only imposing a limit of one person per every 20 square metres during a service.

The deeply Catholic Poland is getting ready for Easter and experts have long feared that any restrictions of religious services will be ignored by the clergy.

The government and the Polish Episcopate only issued a joint statement on March 24 asking the clergy to adhere to safety measures. A number of media reports in the past few weeks showed that Sunday masses often do not meet even the current, less strict, restrictions. 

The government also did not decide to limit people’s mobility ahead of Easter, only suggesting that people spend the holidays with just close family and avoid travel.

It is expected that the newly imposed restrictions will result in slowing down the spread of the coronavirus in up to two weeks – provided people adhere to them.

Poland is wary of introducing a complete lockdown as it wants to avoid an economic collapse similar to the one last spring. Poland’s economy contracted 2.7% last year overall after activity picked up in from the second quarter on – although with accompanying second and third waves of the pandemic. 

To date, Poland has registered 2,154,821 coronavirus cases, including 50,860 fatal ones. In the past two weeks, Poland’s death rate has been among the highest in the EU, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.