The cemeteries are closed not only on November 1. The government introduces new restrictions

Will the cemeteries be closed?

On October 31, November 1 and November 2, the cemeteries will be closed. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced today the introduction of new restrictions in connection with the coronavirus epidemic. He emphasized that visiting cemeteries now entails too great a risk. However, he assured that "if the pandemic does not intensify, in the second half of November - having made sure that there are no large clusters of people - it will be possible to visit the graves"

Can seniors leave home?

The prime minister also appealed to seniors to stay at home for at least the next two weeks. The Solidarity Corps of Seniors Support will help them. He called on seniors to stay at home for at least the next two weeks, because - as he emphasized - their lives are most at risk - as a result of the development of the pandemic. "Above the age of 70, this threat is growing absolutely rapidly, today our appeal takes the form of an alarm, an instruction [...] that the seniors should stay at home" - said the Prime Minister.

Public administration employees who do not have to perform stationary work are to work remotely. The prime minister also appealed to employers from other companies for similar decisions.

Mateusz Morawiecki also referred to the judgment of the Constitutional Tribunal, trying to calm emotions and arguing that "we can differ", but in a bad epidemic situation they should not demonstrate. He assured that the fears of women were groundless. On the other hand, the president's proposal starts a dialogue.

The Minister of Health also explained that no major restrictions will be introduced for the time being, as the ministry wants to "monitor the disease in the coming week".

Will kindergartens be open?

Stationary education for kindergartens and grades 1-3 of primary schools was maintained. However - as the prime minister pointed out - it will depend on the disease curve.

Change to the quarantine policy

The rules of quarantine for people living with an infected person are also changing. There will be no sanitary decision. The cohabitant is simply to stay at home. From this point on, the time of the quarantine will count.

- We want the co-members of a person who has a positive test result to no longer have to wait for a call from the Sanitary and Epidemiological Station and start quarantine only after this call. We assume that this quarantine will be automatic, said Minister of Health Adam Niedzielski on Friday.

Niedzielski appealed to all people who have a cohabitant with a positive test result to stay at home in quarantine. "You will be automatically entered into this quarantine. Of course, an employee of the Sanepid will also call you to arrange such formalities as entering into the system, which is then the basis for the payment of the benefit, but there will be no decision of the sanitary department. The quarantine will be started automatically" - he summed up.

Antigen tests will be used on a larger scale. The definition of an infection is also changing.

"We assume from today that antigen tests, which are performed for a symptomatic patient, are the same basis for determining a coronavirus as PCR tests" - said Niedzielski.

As he recalled, "so far, even after using an antigen test, a PCR test had to be performed anyway". "In this way, we are changing the definition of the case. Now, not only the PCR test, but also the symptoms and the antigen test will prove that the person is sick with coronavirus and does not need confirmation" - he explained.

"It has to do with the fact that we want to introduce testing with antigen tests on a larger scale. We are considering introducing it at emergency rooms, emergency rooms (...) We also want to use it in overnight medical assistance. This is a very important change that will enable quick testing without the need to confirm with a PCR test "- he added.

The health minister announced that the changes he announced at Friday's press conference will be included in the new strategy document. As he added, "we will prepare the third version next week"

What is a Pulse Oximeter and Who Will Get It?

In caring for poorly or asymptomatic patients, we will use pulse oximeters measuring the level of blood oxygenation; The devices will be received by people with a positive result for the presence of coronavirus, indicated by family doctors - also announced on Friday Minister of Health Adam Niedzielski.

Niedzielski also announced that the use of pulse oximeters as a general elementary solution for the care of patients who are scarce or asymptomatic will be a novelty. "The device informs about the oxygenation of the blood and, depending on the parameters that are shown, we will react. Any person indicated by the primary health care physician who has a positive result (for the presence of coronavirus - PAP), is scant or asymptomatic, will receive a pulse oximeter. will be monitored by a special monitoring center, which will be established by the Ministry of Health, said the Minister of Health.

He added that the network of isolatories was also being expanded. "Yesterday there were 4,000 places in isolatories. At the moment, we are expanding this infrastructure to nearly 10,000. We are expanding it so that some of the patients who are hospitalized and do not require intensive care could be moved to treatment in isolatories. there will be not only hotels, but also sanatoriums "- he pointed out.