Obligation to cover the mouth and nose. The health ministry decided to “urgently implement changes”

After extensive consultations with specialists from various fields of medicine on covering the mouth and nose, we decided to urgently implement a change in the obligation to use masks, helmets and parts of clothing – Deputy Minister of Health Janusz Cieszyński told PAP

On Friday evening, in the Journal of Laws, an ordinance of the Council of Ministers was published on the establishment of certain restrictions, orders and bans in connection with the epidemic.

The deputy minister said that the regulation, which will come into force on Saturday, has been changed compared to the original wording of the draft.

Due to the fact that We observe more and more disregard of the obligation to cover the nose and mouth, which may result in new infections, and given opinions of doctors who see no significant contraindications to wearing masks, we decided that from Saturday, the obligation to cover the nose and mouth in shops, offices or transport exempts the indications strictly defined in the regulation. Apart from them, the obligation to cover the face is universal – said Cieszyński.

Initially, a provision was planned that from 1 September 2020, the obligation to present a certificate confirming the inability to cover the mouth and nose for health reasons will be introduced.

Currently, in the final version of the regulation – as Cieszyński pointed out – there is a provision guaranteeing that from August 8, it will be compulsory to cover the mouth and nose, if not with a mask, then with a visor (including only one covering the mouth and nose) or a piece of clothing.

READ ALSO: Red and yellow zones of COVID-19 infection. What is allowed and what is forbidden?

Exemptions from this rule will include – as the deputy minister said – incl. people with pervasive developmental disorders, mental disorders, moderate, severe or profound intellectual disability, as well as people who have difficulty covering or uncovering their mouth or nose on their own.

As a result of consultations, the published regulation changed, inter alia, solutions for operation in the yellow and red zones, incl. cinemas and gyms. The solutions for churches were also clarified.

CHECK THE CURRENT BALANCE OF THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK IN POLAND.

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