The World Health Organization – the United Nations body leading the global fight against Coronavirus – has called on Europeans to mask-up as Christmas celebrations begin across the continent.
The WHO European regional office said in a statement that though wearing masks at family gatherings might feel awkward, doing so would help keep everyone safe and healthy. The agency added that vulnerable people may find it difficult to ask loved ones to keep a safe distance and urged Europeans to consider what others may be feeling and the difficult decisions they may be facing.
The statement released Wednesday also warns of the danger of a resurgence of the virus in the new year if December festivities lead to increased contact between people. The WHO has encouraged people to hold gatherings outdoors wherever possible and to practice social distancing, hand hygiene, and mask-wearing when necessary.
The European Union is currently experiencing near-record infection rates and case numbers. Germany this week returned to a nation-wide lockdown, with all non-essential shops and workplaces closed until January 10th.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said yesterday that Europe would approve and begin roll-out of a Coronavirus vaccine within a week.
Poland had a trade surplus of EUR 9.5 billion in the first 10 months of 2020 – that’s according to the Polish Central Statistics Office (GUS).
New economic figures released Wednesday show Polish total exports at EUR 193.9 bln in the January to October period, with imports at EUR 184.4 bln.
According to GUS, the biggest importers of Polish goods were Germany, the Czech Republic, and the UK. The largest importers to Poland were Germany, China, and Italy.
A Polish general has been awarded one of Germany’s highest honours.
General Jarosław Mika was presented with the Gold Cross of Honour – one of the Bundeswehr’s highest awards for meritorious service – by Germany’s ambassador to Poland at a ceremony in Warsaw earlier this week.
The award is to recognise Gen. Mika’s work to develop bilateral cooperation between the German and Polish armed forces.
And on the 50th anniversary of the December ’70 strikes, a memorial service was held last night at the Gdansk shipyard.
A gathering at the famous Shipyard Gate No. 2 – next to the European Solidarity Centre – was attended by Gdańsk’s Mayor Aleksandra Dulkiewicz as well as Marshal of Pomerania Mieczysław Struk, the Speaker of the Polish Senate, and former President and shipyard worker Lech Wałęsa.
Last night’s event also saw the Zieleniak, a green-fronted skyscraper in downtown Gdansk, have its entire 90m façade lit up with memorial symbols.
In 1970, the Zieleniak was still under construction and would have loomed over the ongoing strikes in the nearby shipyard.
The ceremony remembered the victims of the brutal government crackdown on the strikes and the 43 who died as a result. But the event also recognised the importance of December ’70 in the road towards freedom which would culminate 19 years later in the end of communism.
A cloudy but mild day today with temperatures reaching around 6°C, 42°F.
Still feeling chilly though with a moderate wind from the south bringing up cold air from inland.
A chance of some light rain overnight with tomorrow remaining mild and mostly cloudy.
Thomas Holdstock/mw
