For the first time since 1989, Poland’s presidential elections, which had been due to take place yesterday amidst the coronavirus epidemic, will now be held at a later date. The National Electoral Commission (PKW) stated in a resolution adopted on Sunday that “in the elections of the President of the Republic of Poland ordered on May 10, 2020 there was no possibility of voting for candidates,” a situation which „is equivalent in effect to the inability to vote as laid out in Article 293 (3) of the Election Code due to the lack of candidates”.

Parliamentary speaker Elżbieta Witek, the current Marshał of the Sejm, now has 14 days from the date of the publication of the resolution to set a date for new elections. According to PKW chairman Sylwester Marciniak, the elections should be held within 60 days of the date of the Marshał’s declaration.

When asked at a press conference if the current situation means the electoral cycle would be restarted for all candidates, Marciniak replied that „at the moment it is difficult to prejudge” and that this was a matter for the legislature.

Source: Radio Gdańsk, Radio Poland

Downward trend in infection rates, excluding Silesia

Health Minister Łukasz Szumowski announced yesterday that were it not for numbers from the province of Silesia, Poland’s coronavirus infection rates would be showing a downward trend.

As of this morning, over 16,000 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Poland. Of these, over 800 have died and nearly 6,000 have recovered. The vast majority of new infections were recorded in the province of Silesia in southwestern Poland, largely as a result of outbreaks in several mines in the region.

According to Szumowksi, the spread of the disease in the mines was partly due to the difficult working conditions there as well as the fact that over 97 percent of those infected have mild symptoms or are completely asymptomatic. „On the one hand, it is very good for them,” explained Szumowski, “but on the other hand… it is easier to unconsciously infect others.”

Szumowski assured Poles that the situation was being monitored on an ongoing basis, and pointed out that if it weren’t for the outbreaks in the mines, we would have „only a dozen new sick people” in Silesia. “We can say that there is a light somewhere in the tunnel, but we must act very quickly and efficiently in Silesia so that these outbreaks do not have become a source of horizontal infections,” he concluded.

Source: PAP

Polish tourist destinations open for business

As was readily apparent to anyone walking on the beaches of Sopot and Brzeżno this weekend, tourists from around Poland have begun flocking to their favorite spots in the mountains, at the beach, and in the lake district.

As of May 4, hotels were allowed to reopen, as well as shopping galleries, preschools, kindergartens, and outdoor sports areas. Over the weekend, the Polish rail service PKP restored many of its connections to numerous tourist destinations and transit hubs, including Warsaw, Kraków, and Trójmiasto.

Polish Health Minister Łukasz Szumowski announced on Saturday that further decisions regarding the third stage of easing restrictions would be made at the start of this week. Next to reopen would be hair and beauty salons, along with restaurants.

Residents are reminded that borders are still closed, however, and public gatherings continue to be banned. Additionally, all residents are required to cover their nose and mouth when in public.

Source: Radio Poland

Cultural institutions in Trójmiasto set to reopen

Along with hotels and shops, cultural institutions such as museums, libraries, and art galleries will be reopening around Trójmiasto this month.

The Provincial and Municipal Public Library in the Gdańsk city center and the Manhattan Library in Wrzeszcz are set to be open as of tomorrow, May 12, and other branches are set to reopen no later than May 18.

Most branches of the Gdańsk Historical Museum (Muzeum Gdańska) will also be opening tomorrow, with the Gdańsk City Gallery set to reopen on Friday, May 15. To reduce the risk of coronavirus infection, the number of people in the exhibition halls and at the ticket office will be limited, and payments will be accepted by card only.

For more information on opening times for various cultural institutions, visit https://bit.ly/3city_openings

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Weather

Today will be cloudy and cool with a good chance of rain in the afternoon. Temperatures will peak around a high of 12°C, or 53°F, dropping to a low of 3°C or 38°F overnight. Sunny skies will return tomorrow, however, with temperatures expected to stay on the cool side as the week progresses.

RGEN