Poland health workers brace as virus cases rise

Описание: (19 Jan 2022) Once again bracing for a new wave of coronavirus infections and the threat of rising numbers of COVID-19 patients needing hospital treatment, Poland's health workers say they are "simply exhausted".
More than 30,000 new cases were reported in the 24 hours into Wednesday in this nation of some 38 million people and health authorities predict the figure could double in the next week.
Some 20% of the infections involve the highly contagious omicron variant.
Poland currently has some 31,000 hospital beds for COVID-19 patients, and the current infection rate posed a “great risk to the efficiency of the health care system,” the health minister has said.
Meanwhile medical staff are exhausted and overworked and have stressed that dedicated beds and equipment alone cannot care for patients.
Nurse Gilbert Kolbe, who is a spokesperson for health workers protesting current conditions, said Polish hospitals are not prepared for another surge.
"Whatever happens during the fifth wave, if no radical steps are taken by our government will, unfortunately, have an influence on the number of deaths,” Kolbe told The Associated Press.
“It is really a great problem that we are simply exhausted," Kolbe said, adding that their situation is made even worse by the hateful comments and death threats they are receiving, enabled by some politicians.
At the Central Clinical Hospital of the Polish Ministry of Interior and Administration, Dr Milosz Jankowski said there were already numerous COVID-19 patients on his intensive care ward.
"I think we will manage, because we managed to go through the previous waves," Jankowski said. "However, we must look realistically ahead. There will be a fifth wave of very sick, unvaccinated people."
Some 56.6% of Poland's population of 38 million is fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, and almost 9 million people have received booster shots.
Health Minister Adam Niedzielski has spoken out in favour of making COVID-19 certificates mandatory for employees.
Niedzielski backed a draft regulation that would require workers to show proof of vaccination or recovery from COVID-19 to their employers.
The right-wing government of Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki also backs the plan.
Niedzielski said the certificates, coupled with people working remotely when possible, were seen as a better option for fighting the pandemic than a lockdown.
Since the start of the pandemic, Poland has reported almost 4.4 million cases and over 103,000 deaths.

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...