HEPL blog series: Country Responses to the Covid19 Pandemic

Poland’s response to the Coronavirus Pandemic

Michał Zabdyr-Jamróz, Iwona Kowalska-Bobko

As of 8^th May Poland has reported a total of 15,200 confirmed COVID-19 cases; 5,184 recoveries; 9,260 active cases (2% being serious or critical) and 756 deaths associated with the disease (20 deaths per 1 million inhabitants). Also, according to the governmental daily coronavirus report, 2,758 people are hospitalised; 104,024 are subjected to quarantine; and 17,540 are under epidemiological supervision.

The first COVID-19 patient in Poland was diagnosed on 4^th March 2020. Sanitary controls on the borders with Germany and the Czech Republic were introduced on 9^th March. The elderly were advised to avoid public spaces. On 11^th March, long-term care homes and hospitals introduced bans on visiting residents and patients. Also on 11^th March the suspension of day-care, pre-schools, primary and high schools from the next day was announced. On 12^th March the Minister of Health (MoH) declared the ‘state of epidemic threat’ that legally enabled the MoH to issue further restrictions and mobilise medical personnel. The decision included transformation of 19 healthcare providers into COVID-19 infectious hospitals.

On 13^th March further restrictions were announced, including:

• Ban on public gatherings (indoor and outdoor) exceeding 50 people.
• Shopping mall restrictions (only groceries, pharmacies and drug stores as well as laundries remain open).
• Limitation on restaurants (only take-away meals and home deliveries).
• Shut-down of non-essential businesses.
• (15^th March) Closing of all borders to foreigners, suspension of passenger flights and 14-day quarantine for Polish citizens returning from abroad. Cargo transport remain as before.
• (16^th March) Closure of all educational and higher educational facilities (including universities).

Remote working and education schemes were encouraged wherever possible. On March 23 the National Health Fund recommended reduction of hospital admissions and postponement of non-life-saving surgeries. Poland entered the pandemic lockdown with basic telemedicine and e-health solutions fully established just a few months prior (e-sick leave and e-prescriptions). This was further expanded to ensure a degree of continuity of services – particularly by allowing remote consultations with GPs (Poland has a gatekeeper system). Mandatory vaccination programmes were suspended.

On 20^th March the MoH declared a ‘state of epidemic’. This included a ban on the export and disposal of respirators and cardio-monitors. This and follow-up regulations on 24^th and 31^st March resulted in new, stricter rules – mostly in effect since 1^st April, including.

• Complete ban on public gatherings of any kind (more than 2 people) with the exception of families. In religious practices max. 5 people are allowed.
• Ban on leaving home for most purposes. Essential purposes include: work (when home office is not possible), grocery shopping, medical visits and pharmaceutical shopping, dog-walking. Recreational strolls near the home were allowed but further sport activities were sanctioned.
• Limit on the number of passengers on public and private transport (to half capacity).
• Closing of parks, boulevards, beaches, and forests. Ban on the use of city-bikes.
• 2-meter mandated distance between people outdoors (except for parents with children), and 1.5-meter distance in work premises.
• Closing of hotels, hairdressers, etc.
• Max 3 customers in shops at a time per cash register, mandatory gloves for customers and further hygienic mandates for employees.
• Time between 10:00 and 12:00 in shops reserved for the elderly.
• Mandatory facemasks in public (since 16^th April for everyone).

Despite the general compliance of the public, harsh penalties – reaching up to 30,000 PLN (circa 6,580 EUR) for illegal sports activities – became a subject of controversy and criticism in the media.

On 18^th March the Prime Minister introduced the first of a series of bills titled “Anti-crisis Shield” that is supposed to function as a stimulus package for the economy – particularly introducing assistance for small businesses, the self-employed and the unemployed.

On 16^th April the government announced plans for “New Normality”, i.e. for a gradual (4-stage) lifting of restrictions from 20^th April. Since 20^th April more people were allowed in shops and at religious gatherings. Public parks and forests were re-opened. In phase two, hotels and shopping malls (on 4^th May), as well as day-cares and pre-schools (on 6^th May) were re-opened (with limitations). Quarantine rules for cross-border workers and students were softened. In phase three from May 18, there will be reopening of restaurants, hairdressers and cosmetic salons, and permission for outdoor sport events with up to 50 persons with no audience.

During the pandemic, the Polish healthcare system suffered shortages of medical personnel and personal protective equipment as well as other essential life-saving equipment. Poland had difficulties with a limited testing capacity, having relatively low testing rates when compared to other EU Countries. As of 8^th May Poland had tested 425,994 samples (11,256 per 1 million population).

The pandemic also led to a crisis of the Polish democratic system, as the country struggles with safely organising presidential elections due on 10^th May. Despite hurried attempts at preparing elections by mail – in the face of the opposition’s protests and serious legal controversies – the government had to postpone elections (the new date is unknown as of now).

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