The Minister of Health announced that the pandemic in Poland will be lifted in mid-May. Adam Niedzielski added that the state of pandemic threat will remain. The previous day, studies have confirmed 958 coronavirus infections, including 91 recurrences with 24 people dying.

“The decision has already been consulted at various levels of administration, we have made a legal analysis – in mid-May, we will lift the pandemic and transform it into a pandemic emergency”, said Minister Niedzielski. A pandemic emergency is a legal situation introduced in a given area due to the risk of a pandemic.

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

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.

From April 1, 2022, the rules for ordering and performing coronavirus tests changed. The primary care physician decides whether to order the test, and an antigen test is performed. The PCR test may be ordered by a doctor, e.g. before admission to hospital if he decides it necessary. It is no longer possible to sign up for the test by yourself via the online form or via the hotline consultant. From the beginning of April, it is also not possible to do a free COVID-19 test, e.g. in pharmacies and in mobile swab points.

Arkadiusz Słomczyński