Selected aspects of the state health policy during the first wave of the Sars-Cov-2 pandemic

Purpose: The authors analyze the decisions made from March to September 2020 which affected the functioning of Polish health care facilities. According to the authors, that period determined and significantly influenced the decisions taken by state authorities during the subsequent waves of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach: The analysis of the issue presented in the paper will be a descriptive one. The research exploration will be carried out using the desk research method. Findings: Analyses of secondary and compilation documents showed that the authorities of the Republic of Poland were not prepared to manage the state in unprecedented conditions caused by the first wave of the pandemic, and the decisions taken at that time by public administration bodies were chaotic, not always well thought out and often influenced by public opinion. Originality/value (mandatory) The article can be considered original due to the fact that it combines an analysis of Polish legal acts issued during the first wave of the COVID-19 epidemic with, above all, an analysis of their social effects. The analyses showed that Polish authorities were not prepared for the pandemic crisis. The article is addressed to state administration employees as well as employees and students of universities with majors in national defense, public safety, medicine, medical rescue and public health. It may become a basis for developing legal acts of a preventive nature, which can be immediately applied in the event of another epidemic.