Poland's Health Minister Adam Niedzielski said at a press conference on Friday that Poland was recording one of the highest coronavirus R values (reproduction number and growth rate of coronavirus) since the start of the pandemic, adding that approx. 450 COVID patients were being hospitalised at the time. He also said the government would not be considering to introduce any restrictions if the level of hospitalisations stayed below 5,000 cases.
Minister Niedzielski said at a press conference on Friday that Poland was seeing a rapid increase in the number of coronavirus infections.
He informed that due a high level of immunisation, Poland was only testing people who showed COVID-19 symptoms.
"Thanks to research carried out in April and May, we know that a representative sample of Poles who have been vaccinated or went through infection was at 90%," the minister said.
He added that the number of hospitalised patients would serve as the main indicator of Poland's pandemic situation.
Niedzielski also stressed the number of infection cases was increasing fast - by approx. 60% every week.
"The R indicator, the so-called reproduction number, has increased almost up to 1.5, which is one of the highest levels that we have seen since the start of the pandemic," the minister said.
The R number is a virus reproduction indicator - it shows how many people can statistically catch the infection from one person.
Niedzielski informed that some 450 people were being hospitalised in Poland due to COVID-19. "We have much less people suffering heavy symptoms," he said, adding that only 16 patients were being hooked to respirators.
He also said the government would not be considering to introduce any restrictions if the level of hospitalisations stayed below 5,000 cases.
The minister also recommended people over 70 and with impaired immunity worn face masks in closed spaces.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, PAP