"Beginning of the end": upbeat Poland cuts COVID isolation

An end to the COVID-19 pandemic is in sight, the Polish health minister said on Wednesday, as he announced a cut to the isolation period for people infected with the coronavirus and looser quarantine rules. Poland saw record daily case numbers as recently as two weeks ago, but with infections falling and the effects of Omicron appearing to be milder than previous variants, authorities believe the time is right for a lighter touch. 'We are dealing with the beginning of the end of the pandemic,' Adam Niedzielski told a news conference. 'In February, declines in infections should be relatively large.'