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Poland accepts Slovak patients amid pandemic

07.03.2021 14:10
Poland has taken in COVID-19 patients from neighbouring Slovakia, a Polish health official has said.
A nasal swab test for SARS-CoV-2, being performed  by Polish medics at an elementary school in Bratislava, Slovakia.
A nasal swab test for SARS-CoV-2, being performed by Polish medics at an elementary school in Bratislava, Slovakia.Source: PAP/Radek Pietruszka

"There are three (Slovak) patients in Poland at the moment," deputy health minister Waldemar Kraska told private TV broadcaster Polsat News on Saturday. "We know that others are still to come," he added.

The transferred patients were all in a serious condition and needed ventilators.

Poland’s southern neighbour Slovakia, with a population of just 5.5 million, has reported one of the world's highest fatality rates from the virus, with over 24 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants over the past fortnight.

The authorities in Slovakia said Poland and Germany had each so far made 10 beds available for their patients.

Poland was also waiting to hear from the Czech authorities about the arrival of the first patient from that country, Kraska announced. He added that the Polish health ministry has designated hospitals which will offer help.

The Czech health minister on Friday said his country could begin to transfer COVID-19 patients to Poland, Germany and Switzerland as soaring infection and death rates threaten to overwhelm hospitals.

The Czech Republic, Poland’s south-western neighbour, has recently reported a fatality rate of 22.5 per 100,000 inhabitants.

(mo/pk)

Source: PAP, IAR