Poland’s health minister on Friday received his second anti-COVID shot and urged others to follow his example in order to reverse a „worrying” trend of people failing to inoculate themselves fully.

Adam Niedzielski, who is at the forefront of the country’s battle against the coronavirus, said that from June 1 to Thursday, over 44,000 people had failed to turn up for their second shot.

He suggested that among the reasons for the rising trend were the falling number of fresh infections in Poland and the fact that the summer holiday season has begun, with Poles feeling less threatened by the virus.

With most of the vaccines administered in Poland, two shots several weeks apart are needed to ensure full protection.

Source – Polskie Radio

Joe Biden has declared that the United States will be an „unfailing partner” of the Polish-led Three Seas Initiative of European countries seeking to enhance cooperation and connectivity, officials in Warsaw have noted.

The Polish-led Three Seas Initiative aims to boost infrastructure, energy and business ties among 12 countries between the Black, Baltic and Adriatic Seas. Leaders from across Central and Eastern Europe as well as further afield, including a group of US lawmakers, were meeting in the Bulgarian capital Sofia at a two-day summit of Three Seas Initiative countries.

Source – Polskie Radio

Hubert Hurkacz’s hopes of Wimbledon glory were cut short by Italy’s Matteo Berrettini in the semi-finals of the tennis championships in London on Friday.

The 24-year-old Pole was dispatched 3-6, 0-6, 7-6, 4-6. It was the first time he had reached the semis of a Grand Slam tournament.

Hurkacz won praise at home and abroad on Wednesday after overpowering Switzerland’s world No. 8 Roger Federer 6-3, 7-6, 6-0 in their men’s singles quarter-final match at the grass-court competition in the British capital.

Source – Polskie Radio

Gdańsk zoo has upgraded its enclosure for its resident family of pygmy hippos. The male Sapo and the female Tosia with the four-month-old daughter Tanga have conditions similar to the natural conditions in which these animals are found.

Pygmy hippos live in African wetlands and are fond of wallowing in the mud to keep cool and provide protection from the sun.  The renovation of the hippo paddock cost PLN 800,000. For now the family are not entirely together, as the female is very protective of the new calf and so dad is separated from the rest of the family by a fence which will be removed when it’s safe to do so. 
     
Source – Radio Gdańsk

Weather

Today will be a sunny day with scattered clouds in a moderate breeze with temperatures reaching 23 degrees centigrade (73 degrees Fahrenheit) during the day, dropping to 13 degrees overnight.

Sunday will be a lovely sunny day with a gentle breeze and temperatures of 23 degrees during the day and 16 degrees overnight.

MC/am