The Covid situation in Poland and  Podkarpackie Voivodeship

How has entrepreneurship changed during the pandemic?

Data collected by the Statistical Office indicate that the epidemic state introduced in March 2020 and a number of restrictions related to it sharply contributed to the deterioration of the results of sold industrial production in Podkarpackie Voivodeship. In April 2020, the sold industrial production dropped significantly, both on an annual and monthly basis. In the Podkarpackie Voivodeship, sold industrial production was (in constant prices) lower by 35.0% than in April 2019, and decreased by 32.5% compared to March. From May to October, it was possible to notice an increase in dynamics both in the whole country and in the voivodeship. However, in the last two months of 2020, this growth slowed down. In April 2020, enterprises most frequently signaling changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic, both in the voivodeship and in the country, were active in the field of accommodation and catering industry (Podkarpackie 43.3%; Poland - the whole country 20.5%). October and November were other months when the number of entities of the national economy with suspended activity was higher than in the previous month. At the end of November, it was 3.3% more than a month ago. A large increase in entities with suspended activities was recorded in the sections: activities related to culture, entertainment and recreation, accommodation and catering, health care, and social assistance. In November 2020, 1081 new entities were registered, i.e. 22.8% less than in October 2020, while 452 entities were deregistered, i.e. 20.1% less than a month before.

Now, we are all happy to share the information that at the moment the pandemic situation in Poland has started to calm down. Still, a number of restrictions are in force. Obligation to maintain a distance of at least 1.5 meters between pedestrians occurs in the whole country area. In the last week of April, the government presented the rules for releasing the restrictions. Thus, since:

• May 1: hairdressing and beauty salons reopened; sports are allowed in outdoor sports facilities (max 50 people); sports are allowed in indoor sports facilities and swimming pools for organized groups.
• May 4: art galleries and museums have been opened; DIY stores, furniture stores, and shopping malls were opened; the form of stationary education for grades 1-3 of primary school is back - Of course, all of the above-mentioned must operate under strict sanitary conditions.
• May 8: Hotels have been opened for the arriving guests, with the exception of restaurants and the wellness & spa areas.
• May 15: The obligation to wear masks in the open air has been abolished; restaurant gardens have been opened; open-air cinemas and theaters open; the possibility of organizing, among others outdoor weddings and communions - up to 25 people; introducing hybrid learning for the remaining grades of primary and secondary schools.
•  May 29: internal gastronomy is opened - maximum occupancy of 50% of the premises weddings and communions up to 50 people; cinemas and theaters will be opened; it will be possible to play sports in indoor sports facilities and swimming pools; sports will be allowed in gyms, fitness clubs, and solariums; full-time study for ALL students is back.

It is definitely a huge light at the end of the tunnel for the country.