Poland: Legal Response to Covid-19

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dc.abstract.enAs of December 2023, Poland has reported 6,590,705 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 119,886 deaths. The pandemic unfolded in multiple waves, with significant spikes in infections and deaths occurring during the autumn of 2020 and winter of 2021, as well as subsequent surges linked to the Delta and Omicron variants. Poland’s healthcare system, while relatively well-developed, experienced periods of significant strain, particularly during the peaks of infection when hospital capacities were overwhelmed and shortages of medical staff and equipment were reported. The government’s public health response evolved over time, initially focusing on lockdowns and restrictions, later transitioning to mass vaccination campaigns, with varying degrees of compliance and public support. The Covid-19 pandemic occurred in Poland at a time when the country was already experiencing concerns related to the rule of law and trends in governance. In response to the pandemic, the Government opted not to declare a constitutional state of emergency (stan nadzwyczajny), but instead chose to manage the situation through existing legal frameworks, supplemented by new legislation. Observers have noted that the pandemic revealed significant challenges in state preparedness, with some laws reportedly being passed hastily and questions raised about the Government’s use of extraordinary powers. Critics have argued that certain rights and freedoms were restricted during the pandemic, at times exceeding the limits set by law, and that some policies, particularly those affecting women’s rights, led to significant societal debate. Furthermore, concerns have been raised regarding the lack of accountability for potential misuse of public funds, as well as the transparency and consistency of certain policies. Public opinion was also influenced by populist sentiments, including the anti-vaccination movement.
dc.affiliationWydział Prawa w Warszawie
dc.affiliationWydział Prawa i Komunikacji Społecznej we Wrocławiu
dc.affiliationInstytut Prawa
dc.contributor.authorBodnar, Adam
dc.contributor.authorDaniel, Paweł
dc.contributor.authorKowalski, Paweł
dc.contributor.authorRadajewski, Mateusz
dc.contributor.editorKing, Jeff
dc.contributor.editorFerraz, Octavio
dc.date.access2026-02-03
dc.date.accessioned2026-02-03T07:08:53Z
dc.date.available2026-02-03T07:08:53Z
dc.date.created2024-09-01
dc.date.issued2024-09-01
dc.description.accesstimeat_publication
dc.description.physical1-45
dc.description.sdgGoodHealthAndWellBeing
dc.description.sdgPeaceJusticeAndStrongInstitutions
dc.description.versionfinal_published
dc.identifier.doi10.1093/law-occ19/e51.013.51
dc.identifier.eisbn9780192897078
dc.identifier.urihttps://share.swps.edu.pl/handle/swps/2167
dc.identifier.weblinkhttps://oxcon.ouplaw.com/display/10.1093/law-occ19/law-occ19-e51?rskey=WR9fZG&result=1&prd=OCC19
dc.languageen
dc.pbn.affiliationnauki prawne
dc.publisher.ministerialOxford University Press
dc.relation.bookThe Oxford Compendium of National Legal Responses to Covid-19
dc.relation.languageen
dc.rightsCC-BY-NC
dc.rights.questionYes_rights
dc.share.monoOTHER
dc.swps.sciencecloudsend
dc.titlePoland: Legal Response to Covid-19
dc.typeMonographyChapter
dspace.entity.typeBook