The Polish economy is predicted to rebound strongly in the second half of this year according to remarks made by Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki yesterday. Speaking during the second day of the high-profile business forum “Congress 590,” Morawiecki claimed the government had saved over 5 million jobs amid the COVID epidemic, while Poland had the lowest unemployment in the European Union.
Morawiecki went on to call for an “investment offensive” to further bolster Poland’s economic recovery. The Polish economy shrank 2.7 percent last year after growing 4.7 percent in 2019, according to Poland’s Central Statistical Office (GUS).
Source: Radio Poland, PAP
After confirmation of a new strain of COVID-19 from India earlier this week, Poland has confirmed its first three cases of the so-called “Brazilian variant.”
Health Minister Adam Niedzielski said the cases were detected in the densely populated southern coal-mining region of Silesia.
Stricter rules came into force in Poland on Thursday, requiring anyone arriving from Brazil, India, and South Africa to quarantine for seven days. After that time, they will have to show an all-clear COVID test result for the quarantine to be lifted.
Source: Radio Poland
The Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk is set to reopen today as part of eased COVID restrictions, with attendance limited to 400 patrons at any one time.
The popular annual “Long Night of Museums” is also to go ahead this year, with 180 institutions across Poland offering special attractions on the night of May 15.
In response to declining infection and mortality rates, the government on Tuesday allowed shopping malls, DIY stores, and museums to reopen. It plans to gradually ease other lockdown rules later this month.
Source: Radio Gdańsk, Radio Poland
The Liga Europa Final will not be an all-English affair after last night’s match between London’s Arsenal and Spain’s Villareal ended in a 0-0 draw.
Villarreal fans are still celebrating after their team qualified for a European final for the first time in the club’s history. The Spanish club will face off against top-ranked Manchester United in the UEFA Final in Gdańsk on May 26.
The match is limited to 9,500 spectators, with tickets being allocated based on a virtual lottery system. Online ticket registration closes today at 2 pm, with the lottery results being announced via email on May 14.
Source: Radio Gdańsk, https://www.uefa.com/
The first census lottery draw occurs at noon today, with participants eligible to win up to 1000 PLN.
According to the Central Statistical Office (GUS), 160 prepaid cards worth PLN 500 and 80 prepaid cards worth PLN 1000 will be drawn at random today. The drawing will be broadcast live on the Facebook and YouTube pages of GUS.
The lottery is open to adults who previously completed the census, registered their application via the lottery website, and received a special 10-digit alphanumeric code.
Prize draws will be held again on May 21 and again on June 8 and 18, and July 2 and 9. A final drawing on July 14 will be for a chance to win a new car.
For more information on the census and the prize lottery, visit: https://loteria.spis.gov.pl/.
Source: PAP
Weather
Today will be mostly cloudy and cool, with a strong breeze coming in from the northeast and a chance of rain later in the afternoon. Temperatures will peak at a high of 11°C, or 51°F, dropping to a low of 3°C or 38°F overnight. Similar weather is expected for tomorrow, with warmer temps and clear skies returning on Sunday.
EP/pb
