2021-01-19 17:50 update: 2021-01-21, 11:59
PM Mateusz Morawiecki Fot. PAP/Radek Pietruszka
Pandemic affected restaurants, hotels and non-public schools have received over PLN 700 million (EUR 154.4 million) in aid from the government's so-called financial shield, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Tuesday.
Morawiecki said the support had been channelled to over 1,000 restaurants, over 500 hotels, and over 200 non-public schools. He added that the current aid tranche to restaurateurs, hoteliers and schools will amount to about PLN 40 billion (EUR 8.8 billion), in addition to the earlier sum of PLN 150 billion (EUR 33.1 billion).
Referring to the current vaccination programme, the prime minister said it would improve the pandemic situation, but warned that Poland was now in an especially difficult phase in its battle with the coronavirus, and stressed the importance of observing all related rulings and restrictions.
"We are in one of the, most difficult moments, psychologically. The vaccine may make things better soon, but we still have to observe all rigours meticulously," he said.
Morawiecki said that if the vaccination plan proves successful, Poland may be able to start restoring its economy to its pre-pandemic condition in three to four months. In addition, he admitted that as a result of the pandemic, many countries may revert to the level of development which took place in the 20th century. (PAP)
