"We are in fact experiencing the fourth wave at the moment," Niedzielski told a press conference when asked how Poland should prepare for the next wave of the pandemic.
"The lowest levels of infections were reported three to four weeks ago when the seven-day average was below 100 daily cases," he said on Thursday.
He added that in recent days the average number of new daily cases "has been consistently staying above 100, and approaching 200."
Niedzielski told reporters that, thanks to vaccinations, the numbers of patients hospitalized due to the coronavirus and dying from COVID-19 in western Europe were "much lower than during previous waves," despite a high number of infections.
“It’s a completely different reality than during the third wave," Niedzielski said, as quoted by Poland's PAP news agency. "The vaccines are a tool we can use to protect ourselves."
Niedzielski also said that people who choose not to vaccinate themselves “are making a choice that puts them and those around them at risk.”
Poland on Friday reported 172 new coronavirus infections and six more deaths related to COVID-19, bringing the country's total number of cases during the pandemic to 2,883,796 and fatalities to 75,281.
Public health authorities have warned that the number of COVID-19 infections in the country could rise in the coming weeks as the Delta variant of the coronavirus begins to spread more quickly.
(tf/gs)
Source: PAP