Poland: Restrictive measures increased amid record rise in COVID-19 cases October 23 /update 18

Event

The Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced on Friday, October 23, that public gatherings will be curbed for at least two weeks amid a record rise in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases. The measures will go into effect from Saturday and which will see restaurants and bars close, as well as place a ban on public gatherings of more than five people. The announcement follows the Ministry of Health's reporting of more than 13,600 positive COVID-19 cases in the previous 24-hours. It is not immediately clear if the government will allow a previously-planned protest to go ahead on Friday evening following a recent decision by the Constitutional Court to limit abortion rights. 

Authorities previously announced that the wearing of face masks in public places has been made mandatory as of October 10, in an effort to further curb the spread of COVID-19.

As of October 23, Poland has recorded 228,318 confirmed coronavirus cases since the beginning of the pandemic, and 4,172 associated deaths. Further international spread of the disease is expected in the near term.  

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Since then, human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell, or a rash on the skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.