Poland recorded zero new deaths from Covid-19 on Monday for the first time in over a year.

According to official statistics, in the 24 hours to Monday, no new deaths as a result of Covid-19 or connected to Covid-19 were recorded.

It’s the first time since March of last year, shortly after the disease first appeared in Poland, that no new deaths have been reported. The figures should be taken with a pinch of salt, however, as reported deaths and infections are usually lower on Sundays as some figures don’t come in until Monday.

Yesterday also saw 52 new confirmed cases of the virus, the lowest figure since last spring. Only one new case was reported in the province of Pomerania.

More than 12.6 million people have now been fully vaccinated in Poland, with more than 28.4 million jabs in total. The figure puts Poland slightly above the European Union average with just over 1 in 3 Polish residents now fully immunised against the disease.

The Ministry of Health also said yesterday that more than 5 million in Poland had now downloaded the European Union’s Digital Covid Certificate. The free certificate is available as proof of vaccination, recovery, or a negative test result. From Thursday, the certificate will facilitate quarantine-free travel across all EU member states.

The Roman Catholic Church in Poland has appealed for forgiveness after it revealed hundreds of new allegations of child sexual abuse.

Church statistics revealed yesterday by Archbishop Wojciech Polak counted 368 complaints. According to the archbishop, the complaints were all received between July 2018 and the end of 2020, but concern alleged offences going all the way back to 1958. Archbishop Polak, who is the most senior clergyman in Poland, said so far 39% of the claims had been confirmed, while 51% were still under investigation. 10% of the allegations, the archbishop said, had been dismissed. He added that the figures were „dry numbers” which could not „express the suffering” of the victims. Finally, the archbishop expressed the Church’s „shame, great pain and compassion”, thanked those who had come forward, and asked for forgiveness.

The revelation represents a massive increase in people coming forward with allegations. In 2019, a similar report revealed 382 complaints made between 1990 and 2018.

Poland’s men’s volleyball team have taken second place at the Nations Cup.

The Poles took the silver medal after losing their final match against Brazil by 3 sets to 1. The Polish men’s team has been climbing in recent years, finishing fifth in 2018 and taking the bronze in 2019.

The team will now be looking forward to Tokyo next month, as they begin their Olympic challenge with a match against Iran on July 24th.

In Gdansk, a new study has revealed residents’ opinions on the best times to visit the city.

The study, commissioned by the Gdansk Tourism Organisation with findings published on city website Gdansk.pl, asked holders of the Gdansk resident card what they thought was the best month to visit the city.

May, June, and September came out top of the table, with the high summer months of July and August rated slightly lower.

The shoulder-season months of April and October also did well, as did the Christmas season in December.

November and January through March were seen as the worst months to visit the city, but around 30% of respondents said the city was great to visit all year round.

Weather

A bright, sunny outlook this afternoon with temperatures reaching around 25°C, around 77°F, with a light breeze.

Slightly more cloudy going into tomorrow with a chance for some showers later in the week.

Thomas Holdstock/mw