English Section

President says Polish health system coping with COVID-19 surge

09.04.2021 16:00
Polish President Andrzej Duda said on Friday that his country's health system was efficient and coping well with a surge of infections amid a third wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
President Andrzej Duda, seen ahead of a remote Cabinet Council meeting with members of Polands government in Warsaw on Friday, April 9, 2021.
President Andrzej Duda, seen ahead of a remote Cabinet Council meeting with members of Poland's government in Warsaw on Friday, April 9, 2021.Photo: PAP/Andrzej Lange

“On the whole, the number of new cases is showing signs of easing, and the healthcare system has an adequate supply of beds for COVID-19 patients," Duda said after a remote meeting with members of Poland’s government.

He added that around 3,300 hospital beds with ventilators were occupied, out of a total of 4,300 available to coronavirus patients nationwide.

"The demand for oxygen supply is also being met on an ongoing basis," Duda told reporters after the Cabinet Council meeting, which he had led virtually from his presidential palace.

The president appealed to citizens to get vaccinated against the coronavirus as soon as possible amid an expected increase in vaccine supplies.

Meanwhile, those with symptoms should seek medical attention without delay, he said, adding that a recent spike in deaths linked to COVID-19 was in part due to patients receiving hospital treatment too late.

The remote Cabinet Council meeting convened by the Polish president (right, back to camera) on Friday to discuss steps to contain the spread of the coronavirus. The remote Cabinet Council meeting convened by the Polish president (right, back to camera) on Friday to discuss steps to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Photo: PAP/Andrzej Lange

The Cabinet Council meeting was convened after Poland this week extended its latest round of COVID-19 restrictions until at least April 18.

Poland on Friday reported 28,487 new coronavirus infections and 768 more deaths, its second-deadliest day on record, bringing the country's total number of cases during the pandemic to 2,528,006 and fatalities to 57,427.

(gs/pk)

Source: PAP, TVP Info, prezydent.pl