Poland today recorded 333 new coronavirus infections, the lowest daily figure since 20 July (when it was 279). It also reported only seven Covid-related deaths, which is the lowest daily number since the five registered on 21 September.
The numbers continue a recent rapid downward trend from a peak of infections and deaths in late March and early April, which has allowed the government to loosen most restrictions. The numbers of people hospitalised with COVID-19 and of those on ventilators have also fallen, relieving pressure on Poland’s overburdened healthcare system.
Poland escaped the worst of the first wave of the pandemic, after introducing one of Europe’s earliest and toughest lockdowns.
However, the autumn brought a catastrophic second wave, with the seven-day rolling average of daily infections reaching a high of over 25,500 in November. That spike saw Poland record the highest ratio of excess deaths in the European Union for the whole of 2020.
Infections subsided over December and January, after the government introduced a new lockdown, including closing schools and restaurants. But they began to rise again in February following the partial loosening of restrictions and amid the spread of the so-called British variant of coronavirus.
The highest number of infections recorded on a single day came on 1 April, when there were more than 35,000 positive tests. The highest number of deaths reported on a single day was 954 on 9 April, although that figure was increased by delayed reporting from the Easter weekend.
Since that time, however, the rolling average of cases has fallen rapidly, and has now dipped below 1,000 for the first time since September. The rolling average daily number of deaths, which peaked at just over 600, has also been falling, albeit more slowly, and now stands at 114.
Today’s number of new infections came from 32,000 tests, meaning just over 1% of positive results. The seven-day average number of tests carried out in Poland is currently 54,000. Throughout the pandemic, the country has had one of the EU’s lowest testing rates.
The number of beds occupied by COVID-19 patients in Poland has now dropped to just over 5,000, down from a peak of almost 35,000 in early April. A total of 681 people are on ventilators – less than a fifth of the high of over 3,500 in April.
Just one day after that peak was reached, the Polish government announced the first step in beginning to peel back restrictions, reopening preschools and nurseries. In a succession of measures, it has since allowed schools, cultural and leisure facilities and restaurants to open.
Around 20 million coronavirus vaccinations have now been administered, and almost 14 million people have received at least one dose. Everyone aged 16 or above is now entitled to get a jab, although there are concerns that the percentage of those vaccinated remains low.
Main image credit: Daniel Gnap / KPRM (under public domain)
Ben Koschalka is a translator and senior editor at Notes from Poland. Originally from Britain, he has lived in Kraków since 2005.
