More than 4 million doses of coronavirus vaccines have been administered in Poland, that’s according to figures released by the government.
The milestone was reached yesterday evening and was announced by the head of the Prime Minister’s Chancellery Michał Dworczyk. Figures released earlier in the day had shown vaccination numbers just short of the 4 million mark.
At just over 10 doses per 100 people, the figure puts Poland above the EU average for vaccination rates and on-par with Greece and Finland. Since all currently in-use vaccines need two doses to be fully effective, the figure of 4 million does not equate to 4 million fully vaccinated individuals, though even one dose provides some protection against the disease.
The news is an important milestone in the race to vaccinate enough of the population to put the virus into retreat. Health Minister Adam Niedzielski said last week that he hoped all willing adults could be vaccinated by the end of the summer holidays, though many hope enough people can be immunised before summer to allow for travel and a reopening of the economy.
Around the world, there is growing confidence about the effectiveness of the vaccines as countries with high vaccination rates begin to reopen. Israel, which has the highest national vaccination rate worldwide, is now allowing fully vaccinated people – nearly half of the population – to eat in restaurants without masks or social distancing. Meanwhile, in the US, the Centres for Disease Control has said fully vaccinated people in that country can meet together indoors as they could before the pandemic, though it recommends they continue to wear a mask while in public.
In the UK, schools have this week reopened to in-person teaching and Disney’s share price jumped this morning at news that Disneyland California would be reopening from April 1st.
New road safety measures are on the way for drivers and pedestrians across Poland
The new rules, signed into law by President Andrzej Duda last week and set to come into force on June 1st, bring in major changes at pedestrian crossings, aim to tackle tailgating and introduce changes to speed limits.
Firstly, at pedestrian crossings, drivers will now have to give priority to pedestrians, including people already on the crossing and those waiting to cross. Until now, drivers only had to stop for pedestrians already on the road. The change brings Poland in line with most other European countries.
The new rules will also ban using electronic devices while crossing the road, including looking at screens, talking on the phone, and listening to music with headphones.
Other changes include new measures against tailgating, with all drivers having to keep a distance in meters half the speed of the vehicle in kilometers per hour. So a car traveling at 100km/h would need to keep at least 50m behind the car in front.
Special night-time speed limits will also be removed, with a top speed of 50km/h in built-up areas at all times of day.
The changes are parts of efforts to improve safety on Polish roads, which have consistently ranked among Europe’s most dangerous.
Poland’s athletes took home a total of 10 medals at last week’s European Indoor Athletics Championship in Torun, north-central Poland
Patryk Dobek claimed the Red & Whites’ only gold of the competition, winning in the men’s 800m event. The Poles also won five silver and four bronze medals for the second-highest medal total at 10, just behind Great Britain on 12.
But it was the Netherlands who did best overall, winning four gold medals.
Gdansk’s newest footballer has made a promising debut, scoring two goals in her opening match against Bydgoszcz
Priscilla Hagan, originally from Ghana, proved pivotal in the match, bringing the Gdansk ladies’ side back from an early goal deficit to win the match 2-1.
Hagan, who is also a forward for Ghana’s national team, previously played in the Turkish Women’s First League before moving to Gdansk to play for AP Lotos in the Ekstraliga – the top tier of women’s football in Poland.
Speaking to Trojmiasto.pl, Hagan said she hoped she could achieve great things with the Gdansk team.
Sunday’s match, the Gdansk side’s first league game of the year, also coincided with celebrations for Ghanaian independence day on Saturday.
Mostly cloudy this afternoon with temperatures hovering above freezing but still feeling chilly with a moderate breeze. Dropping down below freezing in the evening with a cold, clear night
A bright start to tomorrow morning with no rain expected until Thursday.
Thomas Holdstock
