Restaurants ready as Poland lifts more pandemic restrictions

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Many restaurants in Poland prepared to welcome customers inside Friday following months of lockdown restrictions that deeply undercut business.

Food establishments were allowed to resume indoor service at 50% capacity after the country reported steady declines in new coronavirus infections and deaths. Wedding parties also are permitted for no more than 50 people, excluding those who are fully vaccinated.

In Warsaw, a city of almost 2 million people, restaurant workers cooked food, scrubbed floors, cleaned furniture and spruced up plants got dusty during the months eateries were idled.

But some businesses did not have enough staff to to revive their activity since many employees were paid off during the closure and retrained for new jobs.

Along with eateries, sports facilities could open doors to visitors up to half their normal capacity starting Friday, while outdoor event can gather up to 250 people plus ones who have had both COVID-19 shots.

Primary and middle school students will be allowed to return to classrooms on Monday.

The number of new daily cases reported in Poland, a nation of 39 million, fell from almost 30,000 at one point in April to just over 1,000 now. The April spike prompted the government to introduce strict lockdown measures.

Among the restrictions still in force is a 50% limit on hotel guests.