Poland is banning direct flights from 44 countries including Spain, Malta, and Albania as of September 2 in an effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus in the country, the government announced yesterday. The list also includes Israel, the United States, Romania, Argentina, Montenegro, India, Mexico, and Brazil. According to Radio Poland’s IAR news agency, Russia, China, France, and Croatia are excluded from the list of banned countries despite previous concerns regarding infection rates and reporting irregularities.
The ban on direct flights follows the introduction of additional COVID-19 restrictions on August 8, measures designed to curb the virus by targeting the worst affected areas in Poland in an effort to avoid a complete lockdown. At present, only powiat Kartuski in Pomerania is subject to the yellow “warning” restrictions.
As of this morning, 67,922 people in Poland have tested positive for the coronavirus since the start of the pandemic, and 2,058 have died from the disease.
Source: Radio Poland, Ministerstwo Zdrowia
Authorities detain students in Belarus
As thousands of students returned to universities across Belarus yesterday, some started off the new academic year by staging protests in defense of free elections.
According to local media reports, authorities began detaining students before noon near Victory Square in Minsk, and OMON riot police were deployed to block the path of protesters near Minsk State Linguistic University (MSLU).
At least 24 students were detained by authorities in yesterday’s actions, with local human rights groups placing the number closer to 40. Last week, the Belarusian government revoked the press credentials for 17 journalists from foreign media outlets like the BBC and Reuters, in an apparent attempt to stifle reporting on the ongoing protests.
Source: Radio Poland, Reuters
Residents urged to avoid water from the Wisła
The Pomeranian state sanitary inspector (SANEPID) has issued a warning for residents to avoid contact with water from the Wisła River and areas of Gdańsk Bay.
The warnings are connected to the discharge of untreated sewage into the Wisła from a breakdown at the “Czajka” wastewater treatment plant in Warsaw last week. Swimmers and other recreational enthusiasts are advised to avoid activities in and around the Wisła River and the Bay of Gdańsk near Gdańsk-Świbno and Mikoszewo.
Officials reiterate, however, that municipal drinking water supplies are perfectly safe as none of the cities in Pomerania draw their drinking water from the Wisła.
Source: Radio Gdansk
Back to school means back to biking
September marks the start of the seasonal “Kręć Kilometry” or “Spin kilometers” city cycling challenge and the chance for companies, individuals, and schools to earn points and win prizes for commuting by bike.
The city-wide game, which also runs in Sopot as “Spin into Sopot,” aims to promote cycling as an ecological transport alternative for commuting outside of the summer season. Participants track kilometers traveled via the free “Activy” app and are awarded points which they can later redeem for prizes like cycling gear, bike service, and restaurant vouchers.
Interested cyclists can join the competition already underway in Sopot, or register for the Gdańsk version, set to begin September 14.
More information about the game can be found on the website www.grarowerowa.pl and on the “Kręć Kilometry dla Gdańska” facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/KrecKilometryDlaGdanska/
Source: gdansk.pl
Weather
Today will be cloudy and cool, with rain showers expected throughout the day and a strong breeze coming in from the east. Temperatures will be on the cooler side with a high of 17°C, or 65°F, and an overnight low of to 12°C or 57°F. Similar cloudy, wet weather is set to continue for the rest of the week, with a potential return to fairer skies on Sunday.
RGEN/pb
