– Covid-19 is not the main epidemic cause in the country at the moment. The problem now is influenza and RSV, said Health Minister Adam Niedzielski. From September 1 to November 30, almost 161,000 deaths were recorded in Poland. cases of Covid 19, while there were almost 1.3 million cases of influenza.
The number of Covid-19 infections is increasing. But flu is the biggest problem right now
Published Dec. 9, 2022 09:56
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As emphasized by the head of the Ministry of Health, the epidemic situation is now defined by two disease phenomena: flu in the first place, and Covid-19 only second.
- When it comes to Covid, we have had a crisis in recent weeks and a systematic decrease in the number of infections and hospitalizations. For about a week and a half, the trend has reversed and we have been recording increases. The increase in the number of infections from week to week is in the order of 20 percent, but the number of infections remains relatively small. We are talking about an average of 400-500 infections per day. There is also a slight increase in hospitalization. The minimum bed occupancy was in the second half of November, it was at the level of 700. Now we are approaching a thousand, enumerated Niedzielski during the press conference.
The Minister of Health added that the ministry is conducting analytical work that forecasts the course of subsequent waves.
– The apogee of the next wave is forecast at the end of January. The maximum number of cases will be slightly above 5,000, i.e. it will be a level comparable to the summer-September wave, predicted the head of the Ministry of Health.
The problem now is the flu. The escalation of infections took place at the beginning of September, when the Covid-19 wave ended. Compared to previous years, there is an increase in the number of cases in children. This is reflected in the situation in hospitals. From the beginning of September to December 7, 4.2 thousand people were hospitalized due to influenza. 60 percent of them are children. The Minister of Health appealed to take care of vaccinations.
- We have full availability of vaccines. We have brought nearly 3 million of them to the country, and the level of vaccination feasibility is approximately 640,000. I would like to remind you that people aged 75+ and pregnant women have a full refund, and people with multiple diseases, the elderly and children have a 50% discount. refund - said Adam Niedzielski.
Influenza vaccinations are also carried out in participating pharmacies. In order to be vaccinated, the patient must obtain a prescription for the preparation from a doctor.
