Epilogue: COVID-19 Pandemic in Poland: The Course, Effects and Challenges

Abstract

This chapter offers a diagnosis of the epidemic, demographic, political and socio-economic situation in Poland during the COVID-19 pandemic and the country’s development plans related to the post-pandemic period. In Poland, like in many countries around the world, there were several waves of the pandemic (until March 2020, until May 2021—three) which, as an extraordinary phenomenon, have had a major impact on life in the country. The consequences of the pandemic turned out to be significant, which made it necessary for the central authorities, local governments and numerous social organisations to introduce preventive and corrective measures. This section presents the political actions and the way the extraordinary crisis situation was managed as well as the overall results concerning the demographic, social and economic impact of the pandemic. The chapter concludes with a demonstration and assessment of the country’s development plans in the context of the most important challenges facing Poland after the pandemic. This is, first of all, the National Recovery Plan (NRP), adopted by the RP government, aiming at reinforcing economic and social resilience and building Poland’s economic potential for the future. The development of the NRP results from the European Recovery Instrument (Recovery and Resilience Facility—RRF). The final part of the chapter presents the post-transformational and post-COVID goals of the country’s growth and the related challenges concerning governance and planning.