In addition to health checks at borders and restrictions on large public gatherings, schools and universities across Poland have suspended lectures in hopes of slowing the spread of coronavirus.
Earlier this morning, Poland’s Health Ministry reported three new cases of COVID-19 in Warsaw, Lublin, and Łańcut, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Poland to 25. The vast majority of patients contracted the virus outside of Poland after being exposed while traveling in Germany, northern Italy, or China.
In response to the growing threat of the virus, the University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk Polytechnic, and the Gdańsk Medical University joined institutions of higher education across Poland in canceling lectures and moving coursework online.
It was announced yesterday that the suspension of classes will be expanded to cover all primary and secondary schools starting tomorrow (March 12) and continuing for the next two weeks (until March 25). Also included in the closures are “institutions of culture” including museums and cinemas.
In a speech on TVP Tuesday evening, President Andrzej Duda assured residents that “Polish authorities have already undertaken appropriate steps in order to be ready for the challenge” of the inevitable spread of coronavirus.
For up-to-date alerts on the changing situation with coronavirus in Poland, follow us on twitter at @radiogdansknews.
Biden wins big in Democratic primaries
After yesterday’s “Little Super Tuesday” primaries, former Vice President Joe Biden appears to be close to clinching the nomination to be the Democratic candidate in next November’s presidential election.
Of the six states holding primaries yesterday, Biden won decisively in Mississippi, Missouri, Idaho, and Michigan, with the results from North Dakota and Washington still too close to call as of Wednesday morning.
In a victory speech Tuesday night in Philadelphia, Biden struck a conciliatory tone, praising supporters of fellow candidate Bernie Sanders for their “tireless energy and passion” while reminding Democrats of their common goal of defeating Donald Trump.
Trump to forgo Victory Day celebrations in Moscow
A spokesman for the Russian government announced yesterday that current US President Donald Trump would not be attending Victory Day celebrations in Moscow in May due to concerns about coronavirus.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the defeat of the Nazi regime in WWII, an event celebrated annually in Russia on May 9th as “День Победы” or Victory Day. Several high-profile leaders are expected to attend ceremonies in Moscow, including French President Emmanuel Macron.
The US has not yet announced who will be attending the ceremonies on the US President’s behalf.
Fatal accident at railroad crossing
On the heels of Monday’s fatal railway accident near Malbork, a man was killed yesterday when a locomotive collided with his car at an unguarded railroad crossing in Drygały in the province of Warmia-Mazury.
According to Dziennik Bałtycki, the 30-year-old driver, a resident of Pisz, was killed instantly when a locomotive collided with his passenger car while he was attempting to cross the tracks early Tuesday morning.
Police are still investigating the circumstances of the accident and urge drivers to exercise caution at all unguarded railway crossings.
Stoch triumphs at Raw Air tournament in Norway
Triple Olympic champion Kamil Stoch won the Raw Air ski-jumping competition at the Norwegian resort of Lillehammer yesterday, earning his 36th World Cup victory.
Stoch and fellow Pole Dawid Kubacki are currently halfway through the 16 rounds of the competition, which includes individual events, team events, and qualifications. The tournament began at the end of last week and will continue through next Sunday in various locations around Norway, including Oslo, Lillehammer, Trondheim, and Vikersund.
The sixth stage of the Raw Air competition continues today in Trondheim; qualifications will start at 17:30 CET this evening.
Weather
Today will be partly cloudy with only a slight chance of rain during the day and strong winds coming from the northwest. Temperatures will peak around a high of 9°C, or 48°F with temps dropping to 5°C or 41°F overnight. There will be a good chance of rain early tomorrow morning, with Thursday’s wet weather set to continue into the weekend.
RGEN/Elizabeth Peck/ako
