Dear all,

Please disregard this message if you’re not planning to participate in the IGF in Katowice in person and thank you for bearing with me spamming your inbox.

This is a local update on the latest COVID restrictions in Poland, active as of tomorrow, Dec. 1st.

In summary: at the moment of writing this, the IGF is proceeding as originally planned, in the hybrid format; no additional restrictions have been officially announced, you might however want to consider these latest updates when planning your travel:

NEW RESTRICTIONS: Due to the increasing number of COVID infections in Poland [https://is.gd/3TiBZz] and the Omicron variant being detected in neighboring countries, new pandemic restrictions are being implemented locally as of Dec. 1^st [source: https://www.gov.pl/web/koronawirus/nowe-zasady-kwarantanny-dla-podrozujacych-i-zmienione-limity-osob in Polish ]

• TRAVEL BAN: >From November 30 to December 13, Poland is banning flights from high-risk countries: Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe.

People returning from these countries will have to undergo a 14-day quarantine period. This obligation does not apply to fully vaccinated people who hold the EU digital COVID certification.

• ACCESS LIMITS: >From December 1 to December 17, 2021, the limits of people, incl. in restaurants, hotels, sports facilities, and churches have been further increased:
• Gyms, clubs and fitness centers, gambling, museums, art galleries, fairs, exhibitions, congresses, conferences, shops and shopping malls - 1 person per 15 m2 (currently 1 person per 10 m2) [JK: emphasis added, please note the current IGF venue likely meets these new restrictions]
• Churches, restaurants, hotels, cinemas, theaters, operas, philharmonics, houses and cultural centers, concerts, circus shows, swimming pools and water parks - 50% occupancy (currently 75% of occupancy).
• Assemblies, weddings, communions, consolations, meetings, discos - max. 100 people (currently 150 people).
• Extended quarantine for travelers from non-Schengen countries: From December 1 to December 17, 2021, we are also introducing changes to the quarantine rules for travelers from non-Schengen countries. We extend the quarantine to 14 days. Early release from quarantine will be possible in the case of a negative result of the PCR test, which was performed after 8 days from the date of crossing the border. Quarantine does not apply to fully vaccinated people who have the EU digital COVID certification.

For latest local IGF related updates, you might want to follow the website of the chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland who is managing the event on the host's side: https://www.gov.pl/web/igf2021 as well as the latest COVID updates: https://www.gov.pl/web/koronawirus [both available in English, whereas the English language version does not seem to include all the latest info]. I am also attaching the official infographics (in Polish), published yesterday.

Unofficial: I have been informed by the local hosts that those who wish to enter the venue in Katowice will be tested or required to show an EU COVID pass or a recent negative test result (taken no later than 48 hours prior to being presented). Please note however that as per the current Polish law there is no vaccine mandate in place, i.e. there is no legal basis for any authority to require anyone to show a proof of vaccination/negative test result. These are considered sensitive health data and can only be required based on a valid provision of law. This might result in a situation where some of those who want to enter the venue without presenting a test result/COVD pass, will be able to successfully oppose such a requirement as per the current Polish law.  There have also been recently reported cases of a growing market for false COVID certificates, which are now being prosecuted [in Polish: https://polskieradio24.pl/5/1222/Artykul/2846337,Handel-certyfikatami-covidowymi-powaznym-problemem-Kombinatorzy-nie-sa-jednak-bezkarni ]

Thank you for reading all the way through, keep safe everyone!

All best wishes,

Joanna