According to the regulation of the minister of health published in the Journal of Laws, on Monday, May 16, the state of the epidemic in Poland was lifted and replaced by the state of epidemic threat. The decision of lifting the state of the epidemic is justified the improvement of the epidemiological situation in Poland, the reduction of the rapid spread of infections and the reduction of the number of hospitalized persons.

The amended regulation on the establishment of certain restrictions, orders and bans in relation to COVID-19 provides that the existing state of the epidemic is replaced by the state of epidemic threat. The regulation entered into force on May 16. An epidemic emergency is a legal situation introduced in a given area due to the risk of an epidemic.

The state of the epidemic has been in force in Poland since March 20, 2020. According to the Act on the prevention and combating of infections and infectious diseases in humans, the state of an epidemic is a legal situation introduced in a given area in connection with the occurrence of an epidemic in order to take anti-epidemic and preventive measures specified in the act to minimize the effects of the epidemic.

The end of the state of the epidemic was announced at a press conference on May 6 by Minister of Health Adam Niedzielski.

“This is not eliminating the epidemic, but it is, symbolically speaking, switching the red light in the signalling device, which has been on for two years, to the orange light, which shows that there is a risk, there is a threat, but the situation is going in the right direction”, said the head of the ministry health.

From March 28, the obligation to cover the mouth and nose with a mask in closed rooms was abolished, with the exception of buildings where medical activities and pharmacies are conducted. There is no longer a requirement for isolation and quarantine for COVID-19. Covid wards and temporary hospitals for COVID-19 patients have been closed.

Arkadiusz Słomczyński