The lower house of parliament greenlighted the plans as Poland on Thursday reported a fresh single-day high of 12,107 coronavirus infections and a record 168 new deaths, its worst daily toll since the start of the pandemic.
Under a new “Good Samaritan” rule backed by deputies, doctors, nurses and paramedics who have to treat coronavirus patients will not be punished if they make a mistake, unless it was the result of gross negligence.
In another proposal approved by lawmakers, medical staff assigned to battle the pandemic by a province governor will have their basic pay doubled.
Easier to empploy foreign specialists
Other rules aim to make it easier for specialists who obtained their professional qualifications outside the European Union to be employed in Poland.
The plans now go to the Senate, the upper house, for debate.
As Poland ramps up its battle against the pandemic, Health Minister Adam Niedzielski said earlier on Thursday that the whole country would be covered by restrictions that currently apply in areas hardest hit by COVID-19.
Tougher measures to battle COVID-19 were introduced in Poland in the middle of this month, with the number of “red” zones - those with the most severe restrictions - increased to cover almost half the country.
At the beginning of this week, secondary schools and universities in such areas, among them Warsaw, switched to distance learning.
Strict new rules came into effect in the country earlier this month under which everyone is required to wear a face covering when going out in public.
With 96 COVID-19 deaths per million population, Poland remains far less affected by the coronavirus epidemic than many other countries in Europe, according to new statistics.
(pk)
Source: PAP