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The fifth wave related to Omikron has become a fact in Poland. We are seeing the highest levels of infection since the beginning of the epidemic. At the peak, we can record 140 thousand. illnesses a day, in real terms there may be as many as 800. What to do? The scientists of the Polish Academy of Sciences say directly: we will not stop the wave anymore, but we can weaken its destructive effect. But there is a condition: five changes must be implemented immediately. “For this, only the will of the rulers is needed”. What are specialists asking for?
- In view of the accelerating wave of Omicron in Poland, scientists from the COVID-19 team at the President of the Polish Academy of Sciences published an important position
- Scientists point to “a clear deficit of will to fight the COVID-19 epidemic in the rulers”. The effect of passivity is, among others “Another unnecessary tens of thousands of excess deaths in the second half of 2021”
- In the document, scholars urge the rulers to introduce five important measures as soon as possible, they will not stop the new wave, but will soften its destructive effect.
- More information can be found on the TvoiLokony home page
A wave of disease on an unprecedented scale
Although we are still reaping the death toll of the fourth wave of the COVID-19 epidemic in Poland, the fifth wave of the pandemic is already underway. It is supposed to be the highest one so far. – We believe that the number of infections at the peak of the wave will exceed 100. per day, and can even reach 130-140 thousand. a day – said recently Dr. Franciszek Rakowski from ICM UW. – And we are talking about infections detected with tests, because the actual infections at the peak may be around 800. daily. And although research suggests that Omikron statistically causes a slightly milder disease, it is still a lethal threat for many people. “This is especially true in the case of unvaccinated people” – emphasize scientists from the COVID-19 team at the President of the Polish Academy of Sciences in their statement issued on January 24. Unvaccinated people, of whom there are exceptionally many in Poland. The basic vaccination cycle is behind around 58,7 percent. of us.
- Shocking dynamics of infections in Poland
There are more problems pointed out by scientists. Including the fact that a number of people have obtained vaccination certificates illegally without getting vaccinated, which now turns out to be a “trap” for them. Others are too few people who have taken the booster dose. “The drama of extreme failure of the health care system may affect everyone, including people suffering from diseases other than COVID-19, because the general health of the society in Poland is relatively poor, and the health care system is already deeply inefficient” – warn members of the COVID team. 19 at the president of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Let us recall that in 2021 over half a million people died in Poland, including almost 69. due to COVID-19. Moreover, the number of excess deaths during a pandemic is nearly 2,5 times higher than the average for OECD countries.
- Free COVID-19 tests in pharmacies. “I have concerns about the implementation of the government idea”
“The passivity of the government resulted in another unnecessary tens of thousands of excess deaths in the second half of 2021. Will this tragic statistic continue in 2022? What will be the long-term effects of rulers’ inaction? How will this burden our society and healthcare in the years to come? Long-term overcrowding of hospitals will result in more cases of late diagnosed diseases and a wave of death that could have been avoided »- the researchers write.
See also: A moving story of an oncologist: I lost a patient because his family advised him not to vaccinate him!
We will not stop the new wave, but we can weaken its destructive effects
In the above-mentioned position, the authors admit that the government’s deficit of will to combat the COVID-19 epidemic is clear. “It’s high time to end the notion that we still don’t know a lot about SARS-CoV-2 or vaccines”, the scientists write, noting that “COVID-19 is one of the best-known infectious diseases in the history of medicine, and the vaccine against this disease is the most studied vaccine in the history of vaccination ».
“It is time to reject the assumption that a certain part of society is people with understandable doubts about restrictions and vaccinations. The stage has come to combat the actions of a well-organized – though less numerous than it seems – group of anti-vaccines, which are dazzling a large part of it » – say the scholars straightforwardly. In the current situation, disputes about the superiority of masks over distance, restrictions over testing or vaccination over treatment are harmful. “You need everything at once – and you need it immediately”, urge the scientists, proposing five urgent actions that are needed.
Scholars point out that they do not require politically difficult statutory changes – “lower order acts, eg regulations, are enough. For this, only the will of the rulers is needed »- they emphasize. They also point out that although they will not stop the new wave, they can stretch it in time and thus weaken its destructive effect. «We have the tools to do this. It will be an unforgivable mistake not to take advantage of them, ”say the scientists. What are they proposing?
Five immediate actions appealed by scientists of the Polish Academy of Sciences
1. Rigorous enforcement of the MDDW principle (masks, distance, disinfection, airing), but also the rules “you have an infection – stay at home” and in the coming weeks return to remote work wherever possible, also among vaccinated people.
2. Introducing facilities for the vaccinated and restrictions for the unvaccinated. The guidelines for the durability of vaccine protection and the need for a booster dose should be followed, setting the expiry date of the certificate accordingly. Actions should be systemic, and employers should not be burdened with difficult decisions and responsibility. Decisions on future doses or introducing vaccinations into the mandatory vaccination schedule should be made on a rational basis and taking into account the state of the pandemic.
3. Promote universal testing for all concerned (e.g. through free antigen tests without referral, for example by using the UK solution of free testing packages for everyone at every pharmacy) and regular testing of children and staff in schools.
4. Urgent intensification of the information campaign regarding the COVID-19 epidemic. Introducing educational programs into schools on how to combat epidemics, in particular such basic tools to fight infectious diseases as vaccines.
5. Undertaking decisive actions stigmatizing views and attitudes that negate well-documented scientific facts and directly threaten the health and life of Poles.
About the COVID-19 team at the President of the Polish Academy of Sciences
The interdisciplinary advisory team for COVID-19 was established at the Polish Academy of Sciences on June 30, 2020. The chairman of the group is the president of the Polish Academy of Sciences, prof. Jerzy Duszyński, his deputy – prof. Krzysztof Pyrć (Jagiellonian University). The secretary is Dr. Anna Plater-Zyberk (Polish Academy of Sciences).
The team also includes: Dr. Aneta Afelt (University of Warsaw), prof. Małgorzata Kossowska (Jagiellonian University), prof. Radosław Owczuk (Medical University of Gdańsk), dr hab. Anna Ochab-Marcinek (Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences), dr Wojciech Paczos (Institute of Economics of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Cardiff University), dr hab. Magdalena Rosińska (National Institute of Public Health PZH – National Research Institute), prof. Andrzej Rychard (Institute of Philosophy and Sociology of the Polish Academy of Sciences), dr hab. Tomasz Smiatacz (Medical University of Gdańsk).
Do you want to test your COVID-19 immunity after vaccination? Have you been infected and want to check your antibody levels? See the COVID-19 immunity test package, which you will perform at Diagnostics network points.
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