President Andrzej Duda has called on Azerbaijan and Armenia to “cease military operations and engage in dialogue” amid renewed fighting over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. In a statement yesterday, Duda said he was “following the ongoing armed clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan with great concern” and reiterated “international appeals to both countries’ authorities to stop the bloodshed … and to immediately return to the negotiating table.”
His words echo those of Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau, who emphasized last month that “the only reasonable way ahead” for Armenia and Azerbaijan was “a ceasefire, de-escalation, and negotiations.”
More than 400 people have been killed since fighting broke out September 27 between the two former Soviet republics in a decades-old conflict over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh, an Armenian enclave located in Azerbaijan.
Source Radio Poland, Reuters
Health Ministry reports record number of COVID cases
Poland’s Health Ministry reported a record daily rise in coronavirus infections for a third straight day yesterday, confirming 4,739 new cases, the most since the start of the pandemic in early March.
Of the new cases confirmed on Friday, 724 were in the southern province of Małopolskie, 521 were in the central region of Mazowieckie, and 491 were in southern Silesia.
Pomerania also confirmed a record number of new cases, primarily in the districts of Wejherowo (86) and Kartuzy (37) and the cities of Gdańsk (61) and Gdynia (35).
According to the health ministry data, nearly 4,407 COVID-19 patients are currently in hospital nationwide and 320 of them are on ventilators. Well over 200,000 people are also quarantined or under supervision.
Of the 52 patients who passed away on Friday due to COVID-19, most were between the ages of 45-97 and suffering from other medical issues, while 6 died as a direct result of the disease.
Source: Radio Poland, Radio Gdańsk
New coronavirus restrictions in place across Poland
Due to the rising number of infections, as of October 10 all of Poland is in a “yellow zone” and mask-wearing in public in public spaces is mandatory — including in shops, buses, and on the street.
Pubs and eateries will also have reduced operating hours (from 6:00 to 22:00), cultural events indoors are restricted to 25% capacity, and outdoor events are limited to 100 people in yellow zones.
In red zones, there is a complete ban on organizing or participating in cultural events. As of today, 38 poviats and cities across Poland are officially in the “red zone,” including the Pomerianian districts of Kartuzy, Kościerzyna, Puck, Słupsk, and Sopot.
In a bit of good news, however, the requirement to wear a mask does not apply to those exercising outdoors or with medical conditions, or while in certain open areas including forests, parks, green areas, botanical or historic gardens or on the beach.
For more detailed information on the zones and their restrictions, visit https://www.gov.pl/web/koronawirus/roznice-w-regionalnych-obostrzeniach-dla-powiatow-czerwonych-i-zoltych-od-10-pazdziernika-2020-r.
Source: Radio Gdańsk
Świątek ready for French Open finals
Despite a disappointing loss yesterday in the quarterfinals of the women’s doubles competition, Iga Świątek says her singles’ match today “is going to be a totally different story.”
Świątek appeared visibly angry after she and her American partner, Nichole Melichar, lost in three sets yesterday afternoon to Chilean Alexa Guarachi and American Desirae Krawczyk. Despite her frustration with the loss, Świątek claims she doesn’t feel she has to win today’s single’s match. “I’m pretty happy with both scenarios,” she explained to a Reuters reporter, “Right now I’m just enjoying that I have like a great run in singles.”
Świątek powered into the finals of the French Open after beating Argentina’s Nadia Podoroska in two sets on Thursday, a seeming repeat of her earlier surprise win against top-seeded Simona Halep of Romania last Sunday.
The 19-year-old Polish tennis phenom will face American Sofia Kenin today for the chance to become the youngest Grand Slam champion in 25 years. The match is set to begin at 15:00 CET.
Source: Reuters, Radio Poland
NATO ships dock in Gdańsk
Visitors to Westerplatte yesterday morning were surprised to see a contingent of minesweeping vessels flying flags from the neighboring Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, along with the flags of Norway, Germany, and the Netherlands.
The vessels are all part of the permanent NATO Anti-Mine Force Group (SNMCM G1) normally on patrol in the waters of northern and southern Europe. According to Anna Drozd of the Port of Gdansk press office, the nine combat ships will remain docked in Gdańsk over the weekend in order to replenish supplies and give their crews a much-needed rest. The ships are due to depart by 10:00 on October 12.
Source: Trojmiasto.pl
Weather
Today will be mostly cloudy and cool, with a strong breeze coming in from the east and a slight chance of rain showers throughout the day. Temperatures will be similar to yesterday, with a high of 16°C, or 60°F, and an overnight low of 6°C or 42°F. Tomorrow is set to be a bit sunnier, but temps will remain low on into next week.
Elizabeth Peck/pb
