Shopping malls across Poland are set to reopen today under a partial easing of government coronavirus restrictions.
Museums and art galleries are also allowed to admit visitors again, and shopping hours restricted to seniors have been eliminated as the vaccine rollout continues across the country.

Most restrictions, including gym, restaurant, and hotel restrictions, will remain in place until February 14 as Poland embarks on a „gradual, very slow return to normality.” According to Health Minister Adam Niedzielski, the epidemic in Poland „seems to be stabilized at the moment,” but government officials continue to remain cautious.

Some gyms, restaurants, and other businesses whose owners say they face bankruptcy have announced they will also open today in defiance of the rules. Local officials, including representatives from the Provincial Police Headquarters in Gdańsk, have called on local proprietors and patrons to adhere to the restrictions and collectively take care of the safety of themselves and others.

Source: Radio Poland, Radio Gdańsk

On Sunday, Polish health officials reported 4,706 new coronavirus infections and 98 more deaths, bringing the total number of cases in Poland to 1,513,385 and fatalities to over 37,180.

The most affected provinces continue to be Mazowieckie and the capital of Warsaw, followed by Poznań and the province of Wielkopolskie. Pomorskie, which previously had fewer new infections than Kraków and Małopolskie, now boasts the third-highest number of new infections, with 449 cases reported yesterday.

Source: Radio Poland

Despite temperatures as low as -42 Celsius, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in cities across Russia yesterday for the second weekend in a row.

Some 5,000 protestors were reportedly arrested during the resulting crackdowns by Russian security forces, with over 1,000 arrested in Moscow alone. The crowds had gathered in response to the arrest and detention of Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny.

Russia’s actions were swiftly condemned by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and UK Foreign Minister Dominic Raab. In an official statement, Raab called on the Russian government „to adhere to its international commitments to respect peaceful protest, and release citizens detained simply for expressing their dissent.”

According to Reuters, Navalny supporters have called for protests to resume on Tuesday as Navalny heads to court to face charges for parole violations, an offense that could see him jailed for up to three and a half years.

Source: Reuters, BBC.com

Poland’s Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMGW) has warned that Poland may be in for additional cold weather this month.

According to an experimental long-term forecast, meteorologists from the institute expect at least two more „cold snaps” in February, during which night temperatures could drop below -15 degrees Celsius, potentially reaching extremes of -30 degrees.

While IMGW spokesman Grzegorz Walijewski encourages residents to keep warm jackets and shoes on hand, he also stressed that such temperature drops – if they appear at all – will be only temporary.

Source: Radio Gdańsk

Top Polish ski jumpers Kamil Stoch and Piotr Żyła are celebrating after making the podium at the ski-jumping World Cup competition in Willingen, Germany, over the weekend.
 
Triple Olympic champion Kamil Stoch finished third on Saturday, just behind Norway’s Halvor Egner Granerud, who leads this season’s World Cup standings, and Daniel Andre Trande.

Not to be outdone, teammate Piotr Żyła finished second in the men’s ski-jumping event yesterday, claiming his 17th individual World Cup podium.

Stoch and the rest of the team will be back on the German slopes next weekend before returning to their home turf in Zakopane the weekend of February 12.

Source: Radio Poland, www.fis-ski.com

Weather

Today will be mostly cloudy and cold, with a light breeze coming in from the south and only a slight chance of rain or snow. Temperatures will remain below freezing, with a high of -1°C, or 30°F, dropping to a chilly -6°C or 22°F overnight. Similar cold weather is expected tomorrow, with freezing temps and a chance for snow in the morning.

EP/am