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The state of the epidemic in connection with SARS-CoV-2 virus infections in Poland was in force from March 20, 2020.On May 16, i.e. after more than two years, as announced on Friday by Minister of Health Adam Niedzielski, it will be replaced by an epidemic threat at least until September. What are experts saying about this situation? They emphasize that health cannot be decreed. They argue that little will change every day and the pandemic itself will not disappear.
- The state of the epidemic was introduced on May 20, 2020, i.e. 16 days after the first case of SARS-CoV-2 infection causing COVID-19 disease in Poland was detected.
- May 16 will be replaced with an epidemic emergency, which means that the risk of an epidemic still exists. This legal status allows for a quick reaction
- The mask still has to be worn in medical facilities, i.e. in clinics, hospitals and pharmacies, although from March 28 this obligation is no longer required in other closed rooms, e.g. offices, schools, theaters or cinemas
- You can find more such information on the TvoiLokony home page
What is the difference between an epidemic state and an epidemic emergency?
According to the Act on preventing and combating infections and infectious diseases in humans, the state of an epidemic is a legal situation introduced in order to be able to counteract it and minimize its effects in a given area where an epidemic occurs. The term epidemic of expressions derived from the Greek words “epi” (“na”) and “demos” (“people”) is understood as the occurrence of more than average cases of disease at a given time and place.
The state of epidemic emergency applies when there is a risk of an epidemic in a given area. In this case, the idea is to have a door to react appropriately if there is another risk of spreading the disease.
As noted by the president of Warsaw Family Physicians, Dr. Michał Sutkowski, health cannot be administratively decreed, so each of us should assess how important this decision is for him. From the point of view of most patients, it is not so important, because almost all restrictions have already been lifted, e.g. obligation to wear masks or restrictions on the number of people.
—It does not matter whether it is called an epidemic or emergency — the medic believes.
The pandemic will not go away
Experts agree that such a decision will not change anything in the approach to the epidemic and none of us will feel it. It is more about allowing yourself to react quickly if the virus begins to spread uncontrollably or other dangerous variants emerge.
«For the average Kowalski it doesn’t make much difference. It is important that, if necessary, it is possible to react quickly by introducing the necessary restrictions or mobilizing the health care system » — commented on Facebook on the decision of the head of the Ministry of Health, Prof. Agnieszka Szuster-Ciesielska from the Department of Virology and Immunology at the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin.
It is really crucial that we are ready for various scenarios for the further development of the epidemic, including the less optimistic ones. Dr. Sutkowski emphasizes that there are almost five months ahead of us for autumn to surprise us.
Od pandemii do endemii
At a press conference on Friday, the minister of health explained that a pandemic, i.e. a situation where the outbreak of a disease takes place very rapidly and it spreads uncontrolledly, is slowly turning into an endemic. This, in turn, is a condition where the incidence remains at a similar level for many years and continues to occur in a given area.
Prof. Agnieszka Szuster-Ciesielska approaches this issue quite cautiously, pointing out that it will not happen so soon. In her opinion, it will depend on whether new variants and sub-variants of the virus emerge and whether we continue to vaccinate. Emphasizes that the issue of “actively combating disinformation and the anti-vaccine movement” is still relevant.. At the same time, it chills optimism by reminding that endemia should not put anyone to sleep, because 1,5-2,7 million people die from endemic malaria every year. In Poland, over 19 people have lost their lives due to COVID-116. people, and around the world 6,25 million.
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— Endemic endemia is unequal — summarizes Dr. Sutkowski, stating that we are not sure that the pandemic will turn into an endemic.
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