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COVID-19: We do not want to close country, Health Min says

It would not be justifiable to shut down the entire country by taking a step back. We rather think about targeting those places where the COVID-19 pandemic situation is most difficult. My and the government’s intention is for the children to return to school, Adam Niedzielski, the Minister of Health told the “Do Rzeczy” weekly.

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During the interview the minister recalled the obligation to wear masks and emphasised that visors may be worn for security, but are not enough to be an independent protection. He admitted that when we are outside, the risk of infection is lower, “but it cannot be said that there is no point in wearing masks at bus stops, pedestrian crossings or in places where a fairly large number of people gathers.”

“Of course, the most appropriate regulation would be to say that you do not have to put them on if there is no one within 1.5-2 m. However, I cannot imagine a situation where someone on a walk takes the mask off and puts it back on in a few moments. The theory that masks are harmful is disseminated by anti-masks people. If used properly, it does not pose a threat, but it helps,” he said.

He estimated that masks and distance were safeguards that could prevent the third wave from being so high that it would threaten the healthcare system.

“Although I must say that today we have a much greater tolerance of the level of infections as there are more and more vaccinated people. We hope that despite the greater number of infections, we will not have such an increase in the number of hospitalisations and deaths. We vaccinate seniors so that the percentage of hospitalisations and deaths is lower. Therefore, despite the fact that we can see that the wave of cases is growing, I do not think that everything should be closed immediately” Mr Niedzielski assessed.

When asked about the possible re-closure of industries, he pointed out that the rate of growth in infections is very high: currently it is approximately 30 percent within a week.

“If, however, we are considering interventions, it is rather at the regional level, as we did when announcing a return to restrictions in the Warmińsko-Mazurskie province [northern Poland], where we have the highest increase in infections. In southern Poland, the situation looks much better. It would not be justified to take a step back, close the whole country. We rather think about targeting those places where the pandemic situation is most difficult. There are also some priorities: it is my and the government’s intention that the children return to school, even though we have stepped back in Warmia and Mazury,” he said.

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