Disturbing information is reaching us from China and other Asian countries, where the number of deaths and new coronavirus infections is rising fastest. The latest data show that by Friday (January 31) at 11:30 a.m., 213 people had died from the deadly virus. Around the world, nearly 10,000 people

have already been infected.

The virus is spreading to other countries and... continents. In addition to China, cases have been diagnosed in Thailand, Cambodia, Nepal, South Korea, Singapore, Vietnam and Japan. Infected people have also been reported in the USA, Canada, Australia, Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia. The virus has also reached Europe. Infections have been recorded in France, Germany, Finland and Italy.

Detailed information about the spread and effects of the coronavirus can be found on a specially prepared and regularly updated website: Coronavirus 2019-nCoV.

The effects of coronavirus in Bolesławiec?

The financial effects of the virus’s spread may even be felt in Bolesławiec itself. As we know, tourists from Asia visit our town. Hundreds of them come during the Bolesławiec Ceramics Festival. Asians are fascinated by ceramics and are happy to shop at ceramic manufacturing plants and during the ceramics fair in the market square. If the virus is not brought under control by then and extraordinary precautionary measures are introduced, tourists from that part of the world will find it difficult to travel to Poland and Bolesławiec.

Not a single case has yet been recorded in Poland

The media report on people going to hospitals with worrying symptoms. Samples taken from patients in Poland are sent to a clinical hospital in Berlin. Officially, as of Friday (January 31), not a single coronavirus infection had been confirmed in our country. However, Minister of Health Professor Łukasz Szumowski claims that the coronavirus will eventually appear in our country.

Meanwhile, procedures to protect against the virus have already been introduced. At airports, a so-called location card has been introduced for people arriving from affected areas. Passengers covered by the procedure are required to provide additional information. People who develop symptoms of the disease will undergo quarantine.

For now, it is not known when the virus will be brought under control. Australian scientists have already managed to grow the virus from China in laboratory conditions, but developing an effective vaccine will take time.

Airlines from various parts of the world are limiting or suspending connections with affected regions in Asia. The evacuation of foreigners from affected areas is also under way. In China itself, centers with the largest numbers of infected people are being placed under quarantine. For now, no one can predict the effects that the deadly virus will have around the world.

Disturbing symptoms, suspected coronavirus infection. What should you do?

Below we publish information from Ministry of Health spokesperson Wojciech Andrusiewicz:

If, during the past 14 days, you have been in China or have had contact with someone who was in China during that time, and you also have the following symptoms: a body temperature above 38℃ and a cough, shortness of breath, you should report to the infectious diseases department of the hospital nearest to your place of residence. You can find a list of hospital infectious diseases departments throughout the country in the attachment.

Remember that when disease symptoms occur, a visit to China or contact with someone who has recently been in China is significant.

The Minister of Health and the President of the National Health Fund issued recommendations to all facilities operating infectious diseases departments concerning procedures to be used in the event of a risk of coronavirus infection. At the same time, we stress that no case of a person infected with coronavirus has so far been identified in Poland.

We remind you that this is a season of increased influenza incidence, so we ask for calm and restraint in making hasty judgments about the possible occurrence of a coronavirus infection.

Let us also remember that influenza must not be taken lightly. If flu symptoms such as:

  • a body temperature above 38℃
  • general malaise
  • muscle and joint pain
  • cough, runny nose, shortness of breath

We recommend seeing a primary care physician.