Niedzielski: We are not planning any restrictions at the moment

In the event of a change in the pandemic development trend, the government will introduce new restrictions, but for now, the increase in the number of infections is treated as a post-holiday anomaly, so at the moment there is no decision on new restrictions – said health minister Adam Niedzielski during the press conference.

“We identify this (pandemic development – PAP) as a post-Christmas anomaly, not a trend change. If we had arguments that this is a trend change, (…) then, of course, decisions about further restrictions will be made. at the moment there are no such decisions, “said Niedzielski.

If the government decides to introduce new restrictions in the next wave of infections related to the coronavirus omicron variant, they will rather have a national character – said health minister Adam during the press conference Niedzielski.

“The probability that we will introduce additional restrictions during the winter break is currently relatively low,” said Niedzielski.

“We have forecasts that are different scenarios, we have forecasts that say about the fact that over 100,000 infections will be recorded in Poland This is the blackest scenario

, in which we assume that the number of hospitalizations will increase, and in the context of this scenario, we are preparing plans to expand the hospital infrastructure to the level of 40-60 thousand beds. This is the answer to the worst scenario, where we will have both an increase in infections and an increase in hospitalization “- the minister noted.

Compulsory vaccinations for medics

“In the event of If there are more disturbing signals about the Omikron, we will want to expedite the introduction of this ob Obligatory, we are considering changing this ordinance that has been signed and introducing this obligation from mid-February. We will observe epidemic trends “- said Niedzielski.

” As for the other groups, we first conduct a dialogue on uniformed services, but also with the perspective of including a group of teachers “- added Niedzielski.

According to the regulation currently in force, medical professionals, pharmacists, medical students or employees of medical entities must be fully vaccinated by March 1, 2022. against COVID-19.

Solutions to enhance pre-hospital care for covid patients

Niedzielski noted that in the context of the huge risk of overloading hospital infrastructure, an important element is strengthening pre-hospital care for covid patients.

“Therefore, we have prepared solutions that strengthen pre-hospital care, in this sense that intended for patients who are on early stage of the disease, right after diagnosis, and their care requires the use of special tools “- he said.

He recalled the PulsoCare program for patients with positive covid test results. “We send a pulse oximeter to such patients who are over 55 years old, which allows you to monitor the saturation parameter, i.e. blood oxygenation” – explained.

Niedzielski added that the results of the readings from Oximeters are then sent to a patient monitoring center. “In the case of the so-called alert readings, a consultant or a doctor is contacted” – he informed.

“This program has been running for a long time, so we can already boast some numbers that concern its use So far, 930,000 patients have benefited from this program, in the sense that it has registered in it. So it is a mass-scale program that is definitely a broad-population program “- he assessed.

Provided that currently pulse oximeter readings are taken at the Home Medical Care Monitoring Center. “Everything happens as part of the” Home “program. We have nearly 300 consultants in this program who provide care, i.e. respond to alert readings, and additionally 83 doctors who provide more specialized care” – he said.

He added that from the beginning of the program there were 200,000. alert measurements, which each time meant contact of a consultant and sometimes ended with a call to the emergency medical team.

“There were nearly 6,000 calls from the emergency medical team. We can say that in the case of these 6 thousand people, the program helped to save, perhaps, their lives “- emphasized.

Niedzielski appealed to use a pulse oximeter in the event of a positive test result.

The head of the Ministry of Health emphasized at the press conference that a patient infected with the coronavirus should receive pre-hospital care, although, of course, not every case of infection ends in hospitalization.

“But first, the patient deserves such care and it is the responsibility of family doctors to provide this care to those patients who are included in their list” – said the Minister of Health.

Secondly – as he said – exercising this care is not only a matter of teleportation verifying the necessity to extend the isolation tions. “In the event of a patient’s health deteriorating, the patient has the right to expect the doctor who takes care of him at this level of primary care to organize a visit, organize an examination” – emphasized Niedzielski.

He pointed out that any refusal, “any unjustified failure to provide help and care to a patient is a violation of the patient’s rights, which is related to the appropriate procedures and provisions on sanctions”.

He stressed that the NHF has the opinion to defend the rights of the patient. “But we also have a specialized institution in the form of the Patient’s Rights Ombudsman, who on behalf of the patient will enforce these rights or seek compensation related to non-compliance with this law,” Niedzielski said.

He noted, that all guidelines have been circulated to GPs and published in the form of a communication.

tus / szcz / luk / pat / mfm /