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COVID-19 has been with us for a year. During this time, more than 2 million Poles were infected with SARS-CoV-1,8, more than 45 died. In terms of deaths, 2020 was the worst since World War II. We are currently going through the third wave of the coronavirus pandemic, it is possible that there will be more. When will it finally end? What to do to make it happen as soon as possible? The experts Medonet spoke to know the answer to this question.
- On March 4, 2020, the Minister of Health announced the first confirmed case of SARS-CoV-2 infection. After a year of the epidemic, the infection was found in over 1,7 million Poles
- Dr. Dzieciatkowski: the “Swiss cheese” strategy is essential for the pandemic to end as soon as possible
- Dr. hab. Tadeusza M. Zielonka: vaccinations or medications will never replace common sense and the application of hygiene rules that are safe for health
- Dr. Bartosz Fiałek: as everyone knows the Polish national anthem, we should all know the epidemic recommendations
- More information about the coronavirus can be found on the Onet homepage.
On March 4, 2020, the coronavirus officially reached Poland. On that day, the then Minister of Health, Łukasz Szumowski, announced the first confirmed case of SARS-CoV-2 infection. “Patient zero” turned out to be a 67-year-old resident of Cybinka in Lubuskie, who – already infected – returned from Germany. The man was taken to hospital in Zielona Góra (he spent several days there). 16 days later, on March 20, an epidemic was introduced in Poland and the related restrictions.
Since then, we have gone through i.a. spring lockdown, the autumn wave of epidemics lasting until the beginning of December, which we will remember as a sad time of records in the numbers of infections and deaths.
Closed schools, isolation and limited social contacts, working from home for some, the loss of it, limits of people who can shop at the same time, masks – these have been our everyday life for months. We closed the year of the epidemic with over 1,7 million cases and over 44 thousand. deaths due to / with participation of COVID-19 and unfortunately the ongoing third wave of the epidemic. There is probably no person who would not be tired of what is happening and would not ask himself the question: when will it end?
- “We can definitely speak of the Third Wave.” How long will it take and what might be the future?
We asked renowned experts who assessed the year of the epidemic in Poland for MedTvoiLokony: dr. hab. Tadeusz M. Zielonka, specialist in lung diseases and internal diseases, virologist Dr. hab. Tomasz Dzieiątkowski and Bartosz Fiałek, a specialist in the field of rheumatology, president of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region of the Polish National Trade Union of Doctors, promoter of medical knowledge.
- Year of the COVID-19 epidemic in Poland. Successes, failures, forecasts – experts conclude
What do they think we need to do to say goodbye to the coronavirus pandemic as soon as possible? There are two main conditions in the opinions of our specialists.
How to win with COVID-19? “Homework we need to do to get rid of the plague and get back to normal”
– The most important rule is that everyone obeys sanitary and epidemiological rules – emphasizes Bartosz Fiałek. – As everyone (I hope) knows the Polish anthem, we should all know the epidemic recommendations: proper wearing of protective masks (surgical minimum, and during the “reign” of the British variant – FFP2 / KN95), keeping a minimum distance of two meters from the society, frequent washing / hand disinfection, avoiding crowds, airing rooms. This is the first condition.
About the second, the doctor says: – Polish women and Poles must be aware that there is no better protection against infectious diseases than safe and effective – that is, vaccines that have been authorized in Poland – vaccines. It is thanks to them that we are able to completely fight the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus or, at least, reduce it to the role of causing a minor cold.
– Sanitary and epidemiological rules and universal vaccination against COVID-19 is homework that we must do as soon as possible and do the best to get rid of the plague and return to normal – concludes the doctor.
The virologist Tomasz Dzieiątkowski speaks in the same vein: – We need to speed up and improve the action of universal vaccinations and continue to adhere to the use of non-pharmacological methods (the DDM principle). The government will have to ensure access to mass and quick diagnostics of SARS-CoV-2 infections, he notes. Dr. Dzieiątkowski also emphasizes the great importance of the “Swiss cheese” strategy. – For the pandemic to end as quickly as possible, a “Swiss cheese” strategy is needed, which involves the use of various techniques aimed at limiting the spread of the virus. Taken individually, they are of moderate effectiveness, but when used together, they produce good results.
How to win with COVID-19? “Vaccinations or medications will never replace common sense”
Dr. hab. Tadeusz M. Zielonka. – The eyes of the whole world are on Israel, in which over 90 percent of them have been successfully vaccinated. society. The number of cases and deaths in this country is declining, but we do not know yet what the long-term effects of vaccinations will be, and how effective they will be in relation to new mutants, he emphasizes, emphasizing at the same time that “Controlling the epidemic in Israel will be a clear signal that it is necessary to vaccinate, vaccinate and, above all, vaccinate”.
– Then all forces and resources must be put on the vaccination front. It will have to end with vaccination-free weekends and the dosing of preparations per week per one vaccination point, he tells Medonet.
The specialist emphasizes that until we control the epidemic, we absolutely must remember about social distance, hand hygiene and protection of the respiratory tract with protective masks. – Vaccinations or medications will never replace common sense and the application of hygiene rules that are safe for health – he emphasizes.
The pulmonologist also draws attention to the role of the appropriate information and restrictive policy of the authorities. – The public must feel that the actions taken by the authorities are necessary. Propaganda and incomprehensible moves must be replaced by rational and coherent actions that are part of a long-term strategy – he notes, adding: – Proposed solutions should be based on expert recommendations and gain social acceptance.
In the doctor’s opinion, this applies to both sanitary restrictions and financial compensation. – A citizen should not choose between the risk of developing COVID-19 and the loss of livelihoods and livelihoods, he says directly. – It is equally important to silence social and political conflicts in order to fight the epidemic together.
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