Public and scientific libraries may make collections available on the condition that social distancing is ensured and the limit of people is maintained depending on the area of the premises – informed the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. On Monday (November 30), the Provincial Public Library in Krakow, the Jagiellonian Library, and most of the Krakow Library branches were reopened.
Theaters, philharmonics, operas, museums, cinemas, community centers, and art galleries remain closed to the public until December 27, 2020
Until then, libraries can make their collections available to readers again, they only have to meet the condition of ensuring social distancing and guaranteeing adequate space (1 person per 15 square meters, excluding librarians).
Lending rooms reopen in Krakow
The Ministry included the possibility of opening libraries in the regulation of November 26, but the decision on the date and conditions of the return of the library and the reading room was left to the directors of the institutions. As indicated, it is they who should take into account the conditions of the premises, the time spent in reading rooms, and the local epidemic situation. The directors of Krakow libraries decided to reopen the lending room from Monday, November 30.
The Public Library on Rajska 1 is OPEN!
Provincial Public Library in Krakow at ul. Rajska, together with the opening of the library, decided to additionally allow free access to the book collection. Returns of materials are again made on individual agendas, and they are again available to readers also legible. The largest of them, located on the third floor, has 30 spaces available. The management of the rental shop at Rajska also stipulates that only people with a body temperature below 38 degrees Celsius and no other symptoms of coronavirus infection may enter its premises.
Other branches open their doors as well
Most of the branches of the Krakow Library are also open to users. Due to renovation works, the branches at ul. Brodowicz, Radzikowski, Opolska, Żywiecka, Bohaterów Września and Zachodnia, but in the remaining ones, readers can borrow selected titles again. As Piotr Wasilewski, spokesman of the Krakow Library, emphasizes, it is recommended to order books by e-mail or by phone.
The current sanitary and epidemiological restrictions are still in force, i.e. no access to library shelves, closed reading rooms, inaccessible computer stations.
Piotr Wasilewski
From Monday, October 30, reading rooms and lending rooms of the Jagiellonian Library are also open to external users. After entering the building, temperature measurement and hand disinfection are required, and readers moving around Biblioteka Jagiellonska must wear a mask or a visor, also after taking a seat in the reading room.
Article in Polish language can be read here, in Gazeta Krakowska.
During the Second World War, Krakow was ruled by the Third Reich. What were the streets and squares like in 1939-1944? How was life in the city? See photos from the German album “Krakau” published in 1944.
For more photos of Krakow 1944, I suggest also looking up this article from Gazeta Krakowska (in the Polish language).
The increase in ticket prices for public transport in Krakow has become a fact. We will start paying more for tickets from February 2021. The councilors eventually lowered the rates proposed by President Jacek Majchrowski, but we will pay more. A single ticket will cost PLN 6, a 20-minute ticket PLN 4, and a monthly ticket for all lines for persons with a Krakow Card will cost PLN 80. The semi-annual ticket will be a novelty.
We knew this was coming…
The ticket price hike epic started during the summer holidays. The most important changes, after a few corrections, proposed by officials and Jacek Majchrowski, are a 20-minute ticket for PLN 4 (now PLN 3.40) and a one-way ticket for PLN 6.60 (now PLN 4.60). In addition, monthly tickets for one and two lines were to be canceled, and the monthly ticket for all lines was to go from PLN 69 to PLN 96.
What are the new rates for public transport in Krakow?
Such rates would not come into force. The councilors have submitted their proposals as amendments and these will eventually come into force. The decision was made at a city council session during a nightly vote on November 18-19. From February 1, 2021, the following rates will apply:
monthly ticket for one line (on the Krakow Card) – PLN 54 (discounted PLN 27), the ticket now costs PLN 45,
monthly ticket for all lines (on the Krakow Card) – PLN 80 (discount PLN 40)
monthly ticket for all lines (without the Krakow Card) – PLN 148
half-year ticket for all lines (on the Krakow Card) – PLN 420 (PLN 210).
Amendments done by Civic Coalition and Friendly Krakow
Amendments lowering the rates proposed by officials were submitted by councilors from the Civic Coalition and Friendly Krakow (they practically did not differ from each other). 24 councilors from these two clubs voted for. The PiS councilors and 2 councilors from the Kraków dla Mieszkańców club were against. Two councilors abstained.
New tickets available
The novelty is a six-month ticket, which requires the resident to buy a ticket for six months every month, without a day off, and then the ticket for the sixth month will cost PLN 20. Thus, the price of one ticket per month is PLN 70, which is one PLN more than before the increase. The resident will be able to connect his payment card to the city system, and the fee will be automatically charged every month – first PLN 80, and in the sixth month PLN 20.
The councilors also decided to keep a monthly ticket for one line. Its liquidation assumed the original plan of the officials.
Ticket price increases and a change in the entire tariff in Krakow
The pay rise officials explain the crisis caused by the coronavirus epidemic. We are faced with a dramatic decision regarding the further fate of public transport. Annual public transport maintenance is PLN 650 million. Each decrease from this amount will automatically mean decisions of a different nature – a change in the length of the line, frequency of driving, and at a certain threshold will have to have consequences for employment in both transport companies – vice-president Andrzej Kulig argued in October councilors.
Can there be a travel ban during the Christmas season? This was not ruled out by Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki when announcing new rules for fighting the coronavirus epidemic.
New rules to fight Coronavirus
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced new rules for fighting the coronavirus. From next Saturday, November 28, all shops and shopping malls will be open, but they are to operate in the highest sanitary regime. If this is not the case, the stores will be closed. Restaurants, gyms, fitness clubs, and cultural centers will remain closed until December 27. Until the holidays, there will be distance learning for all students.
Do not travel for Christmas!
The prime minister also appealed to Poles to limit mobility and interpersonal contacts as much as possible, especially during the upcoming Christmas holidays.
The Christmas season is ahead of us. This is the time we meet. I am already appealing to a small group of meetings, not to move between cities, because it depends on what severe restrictions will be later on, said the head of government.
The holidays should have an intimate character, we should spend them in the smallest, closest circle. Holidays are a time of hope, but it is also a test for us – said Deputy Prime Minister Jarosław Gowin.
Limiting the movement might come next…
But what if Poles do not listen to the government’s recommendations and during the holidays they go on trips around Poland? Mateusz Morawiecki does not exclude legal solutions that will make it impossible to move, at least on a larger scale.
We are working on legal possibilities that will limit the possibility of movement during the holiday season – the prime minister said enigmatically. All the time he appealed to limit interpersonal contacts as much as possible.
A Coronavirus vaccine… Soon!
All Poles have weapons to fight the coronavirus: it is discipline, solidarity, and compliance with sanitary rules. We are facing a period of 100 days of solidarity. By the end of this period, it is likely that a coronavirus vaccine will be available. Even, if not for everyone, a large proportion of those vaccinated will break the chain of infections, said Mateusz Morawiecki.
It is possible that the planned mass screening tests for coronavirus will be mandatory in Małopolska. When will the final decision be made? And when will the tests even be conducted? Health Minister Adam Niedzielski gave the dates.
Nothing final!
No final decisions have been made as to how we will do it. We take into account different variants. It may be such a method that we will give family doctors permission so that everyone can come to the clinic and undergo a test. And in this model, the tests would be voluntary. The second model may involve the use of the entire network of drive true points, residents would receive referrals for tests. And in this case – if we chose such a model – it would probably be obligatory to perform the test – said Adam Niedzielski, the Minister of Health in the morning interview of RMF FM.
A decision will be made this week whether coronavirus tests will be mandatory.
Minister Niedzielski was also asked when mass tests, e.g. in Małopolska they will begin at all, he stated that “if we chose the first of the above-mentioned models, testing could actually start immediately, in the case of the second model it would probably take about a week or two for organized logistics”.
Final decisions are to be made this week.
Let us remind you that, according to the announcement of the Ministry of Health, Małopolska will be one of the 3 voivodeships that will be covered by screening tests for coronavirus.
How will the tests be done?
The research will be carried out using antigen tests for the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The test detects the presence of specific proteins (antigens) in a nasopharyngeal swab and can therefore confirm an ongoing infection.
Credibility?
When asked about the credibility of the rapid screening tests for coronavirus, the Minister of Health said that “indeed these tests have high sensitivity in the group of people who have symptoms and high multiplication of the virus in the body, while in a lighter condition these tests do not always come out positive, i.e. they are so-called false negative “.
Antigen tests to be made available
At the end of October, Health Minister Adam Niedzielski announced that antigen tests will be the same basis for determining the presence of coronavirus as PCR tests. Rapid antigen tests give the result after only a dozen or so minutes. They are to be performed mainly in hospitals, in HEDs, and emergency rooms, but you can also do them yourself.
Case study: Slovakia
Screening, also with the use of antigen tests, was performed by Slovakia on almost the entire 5.5 million population (except for children up to 10 years of age). A positive result was obtained for about 1% of the population.
Read the original article, in Polish language, on the Gazeta Krakowska site.
During the latest conference, Prime Minister Morawiecki, announced new rules regarding restrictions in connection with the Coronavirus pandemic. Shops will be open! :O
Shops may open up!
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced new rules for fighting the coronavirus. From next Saturday, November 28, all shops and shopping malls will be open, but they are to operate in the highest sanitary regime. If this is not the case, the stores will be closed. Restaurants, gyms, fitness clubs, and cultural centers will remain closed until December 27. Until the holidays, there will be distance learning for all students.
People are losing their jobs!
From next Saturday, retail outlets will be able to operate in the highest sanitary regime. We met with the trade industry, they promised us that they would take care to keep the number of people in the shops as low as possible, announced Prime Minister Morawiecki.
We were persuaded by other industries, gastronomy, gyms, and cultural industries to open them. However, we are following the advice of our epidemiologists and will keep them closed until December 27. Before Christmas we will inform you what to do next, added the head of government.
Discipline, discipline, discipline!
As Mateusz Morawiecki pointed out, it is important to save hundreds of thousands and millions of jobs in the future, but also to keep the increase in infections in check, as in the last 10 days. There is one condition: discipline of every store, furniture store, shopping mall. We will control them and, if there is no sanitary discipline, we will close stores, said the Prime Minister.
Distance learning in schools will also apply until holidays. However, in the new year, from January 4, winter holidays will begin for all provinces at the same time. They will last two weeks.
Human tragedies unfolding…
Under every information about death, there is a human tragedy, we experience it in many Polish families. That is why we increase the number of beds and respirators every day. We have over 37,000 beds, of which 40 % is free and waiting for patients, although we want them to remain free. For this, we have 3 thousand ventilators, several hundred of which are waiting for patients, said Prime Minister Morawiecki.
As the head of government pointed out, the situation with the coronavirus is still not good. The 7-day rolling series of infections is over 22,000 cases per day. I am concerned about the daily number of deaths, directly and indirectly, due to the Coronavirus. We must remember that the virus takes the death toll that it sowed 3-4 weeks ago. We will see an improvement only in some time – he added.
Prime Minister admits mistakes were made…
The prime minister then admitted that mistakes had been made regarding the coronavirus. Many of our predictions and analyzes were wrong. Two days ago there was the European Council, I heard the opinions of prime ministers and presidents and I know that the mood is similar in many EU countries. We have to demand more from ourselves because the situation is difficult. Coronavirus is a force of nature that cannot be fully controlled. In the fight against it, we lose as often as we achieve any achievements – he emphasized.
100 days of solidarity – Coronavirus vaccine at the end
All Poles have weapons to fight the coronavirus: it is discipline, solidarity, and compliance with sanitary rules. We are facing a period of 100 days of solidarity. By the end of this period, it is likely that a coronavirus vaccine will be available. Even, if not for everyone, a large proportion of those vaccinated will break the chain of infections, said Mateusz Morawiecki
School Holidays
The prime minister, announcing that school holidays will last from 4 to 17 January, added that they are cumulated for all voivodeships so that possible tourist traffic is as small as possible. Mateusz Morawiecki, however, appealed not to travel, especially abroad, to break the chain of infections and to minimize mobility. Let whole families stay at home. There is a chance that the first vaccines will appear around January 17 – he added.
Various scenarios to fight the pandemic
Health Minister Adam Niedzielski announced that the government puts predictability and transparency. The point is not to surprise and show a longer perspective, that the plans are predictable and communicative. We have presented clear rules. They will appear in the form of a draft regulation even today. In addition, there will be a whole package of regulations – announced Niedzielski.
The minister of health also presented potential scenarios for fighting the epidemic. If we approach the disease below 19 thousand per day, that’s when the red zone rules will apply. The number of cases below 10,000 is the yellow zone, and below 4,000 are the rules for the green zone. However, there may be a negative scenario, i.e. an acceleration of the pandemic, and we also predict such a scenario, i.e. a national quarantine, if the daily number of cases starts to exceed 27,000. – warned Niedzielski.
Restrictions introduced by Prime Minister Morawiecki in early November
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki informed at the beginning of the month that November would be “one of the most difficult moments during the pandemic”. The pandemic is growing and our response must be decisive – said the head of government. Further restrictions are very much needed, we are protecting people and health care from the consequences of the pandemic – he added.
The restrictions introduced at the beginning of November include:
distance learning also for grades 1-3, an extension of distance learning until the end of November
closed all cultural institutions – museums, cinemas, theaters, galleries, etc.
hotel facilities will be available only to guests on business trips
trade – in smaller shops up to 100 sq m. 1 person per 10 sq m will be able to stay, and in stores of 100 sq m 1 person / 15 sqm remains
Shops in shopping malls will be closed, except for groceries, pharmacies, drugstores, and services.
In addition, there was a last-minute closure of furniture stores. However, from October, among others, swimming pools, fitness clubs and gyms. However, these institutions often circumvented the regulations and invited people to use their services in preparation for sports competitions.
National Quarantine?!
The next step is a national quarantine and a complete lockdown to stop the worst, that is, the crack in the health service.
Prime Minister Morawiecki, announcing the November restrictions.
The prime minister announced that if new cases of the coronavirus affect more than 50 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, a severe safety brake will be applied, and if 75 cases out of 100,000 are exceeded, it will be necessary to implement a national quarantine.
If the number of new infections is less than 50 but greater than 25, it is possible to return to the red zones. Below 25, it is possible to return to the yellow zone – added Mateusz Morawiecki. The head of government admitted that he would like to say that the worst is behind us, “but it would be premature”. It is likely that after these new safety rules if we strictly follow them, the situation will improve – says Mateusz Morawiecki. The prime minister also appealed to people protesting in the framework of the “Women’s Strike” to move the protest to the Internet, where it will not increase the epidemic threat.
The original article, in the Polish language, from Gazeta Krakowska, can be found here.
Due to the pandemic in Poland, Covid-19 contributes to the death of several hundred people every day. According to the latest data, only 20 people who were diagnosed with the coronavirus died on Tuesday (16th November 2020) in Krakow alone. It turns out, however, that death does not end the threat of an epidemic spreading.
What is the burial of the dead on Covid-19? Is cremation necessary, or are special security measures sufficient? The Ministry of Health has issued special guidelines on this issue (according to Gazeta Krakowska – 16th November 2020).
Funeral of the dead from the coronavirus. Ministry of Health guidelines
Jan Bondar, a spokesman for the Chief Sanitary Inspector, ensures that the cremation of deceased people suffering from COVID-19 is not necessary. However, special security measures must be taken when burial.
In the case of the corpse of people who have died from the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the corpse should be disinfected with disinfectant fluid. Also, do not wash a corpse before the funeral, and if necessary, take special precautions.
According to the Ministry’s recommendations, the body should be placed in a protective, sealed bag, along with clothes or a hospital cover, and if the body is handed over for incineration, place the first bag with the body in the second bag.
In the case of transferring the body to a crematorium, it must be placed in a transport capsule made of a material that can be washed and disinfected. At the bottom of the burial coffin, a 5 cm thick layer of liquid-absorbing substance should be placed. After placing the body in a coffin or transport capsule, close the coffin or transport capsule tightly and spray it with disinfecting liquid.
The Ministry of Health also emphasizes that all these activities should be performed by people employed in hospitals or properly trained employees of funeral parlors. Importantly, such people must be protected with personal protective equipment.
What about the traditional Christmas Kolęda (Carol) in the year of the pandemic?
More dioceses in different parts of the country are announcing that this year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the rules of caroling will change and they are canceling pastoral visits at the traditional date, i.e. at the turn of the year. Such a decision was announced those days by Bishop Roman Pindel, the ordinary of the Bielsko-Żywiec diocese. Will there be no carols 2020 in Krakow?
Christmas carol and the coronavirus. What will the pastoral visit be like?
Due to the epidemic situation in Poland in the Bielsko-Żywiec Diocese, we are not organizing pastoral visits to families in the traditional period this year 2020/2021 – Bishop Roman Pindel, Bishop of Bielsko-Żywiec wrote on Twitter. The announcement posted on the website of this diocese informs that the pastoral visit is postponed “until sanitary conditions allow. This time will be announced by the Department of General Pastoral Care” – added.
“Instead of visiting homes by pastors, the residents should be invited to church in smaller groups”
In mid-October, the decision was announced that this time there would be no traditional Christmas carol visit to the Archdiocese of Poznań.“Instead of visits by priests in their homes, the residents should be invited to church in smaller groups for the evening Mass. A special intention of this Mass should be a prayer for the parishioners invited on a given day” – wrote Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki, Metropolitan of Poznań in his decree.
Recommendations for Holy Mass
In the decree of the Metropolitan of Poznań regarding the pastoral care during the pandemic, there were also recommendations regarding this holy mass, which this time will replace the priest’s visits to the homes of parishioners:
During the Holy Mass one should give a special homily and pray a prayer of blessing over the gathered and remaining residents, especially the sick, as well as bless the water that the faithful will take home.
After the liturgy, there should be caroling and a talk, also discussing current parish issues. It is also advisable to distribute prayers to be said at home and a caroling book.
It is worth encouraging the faithful to return home to celebrate the “family liturgy”, saying a prayer, the text of which they received in the temple, and sprinkling the apartment with holy water.
A blessing only for new houses and flats – this is what the pastoral visits to the Archdiocese of Katowice should look like this year. In addition, there are plans to celebrate Holy Mass during Advent and Christmas in the local parishes for parishioners from particular streets. The decision on Christmas carols in the Katowice Archdiocese was made at the end of September.
What about a Christmas carol in Krakow? The decision has not yet been made
As for the Krakow Archdiocese, the decision on the first pastoral visit during the pandemic has not yet been made. But we should meet her soon.
“This issue is being considered, we are considering and at the end of November some information should appear on this matter” – the spokesman of the Krakow curia, Fr. Łukasz Michalczewski.
From Gazeta Krakowska (article in PL Language) – November 16th, 2020.
I wanted to visit this museum for a long while… I got to step inside it for the first time on the 27th of September, 2020.
What was the occasion? The Podgorze Open Days 2020 💓
How did I get to visit it? There was a free tour of the museum, announced. The tour was in the English language – run by Pawel M. from #goodeventswithpawel (not my first tour with Pawel, and I highly recommend it👌).
How long did it take? The museum tour took about 1 hour. Sometimes I wish we had a bit more time to spare and look around, but if you will visit it on your own, make sure to book yourself a bit more time.
About the Muzeum Podgorza
Opened in May 2018, this museum chronologically traces the history and legends of the fascinating Podgórze district. It starts thoroughly from the time of Krakus Mound and runs through its time as an independent city in Austrian Galicia. Doesn’t stop at the integration into greater Kraków, or the tragedy of WWII, but brings you all the way up to the present day.
With historical artifacts, documents and photography, there are also multimedia displays and a free audio guide (in English and Polish). The audio guide augments the exhibits and there is also a photography exhibit upstairs. The kids will enjoy the educational room for them, located in the basement.
#DidYouKnow
Though well off the tourist trail, the location is actually significant. It was at this former Austrian barracks building in 1918 that Polish officers in the Austrian Army organized a bloodless rebellion and ‘liberated’ Podgórze, then Kraków, from Austrian occupation, thus making Podgórze the first place in Poland to regain independence after WWI. That story and more are inside, so let me tell you a bit more about it!
My experience with Muzeum Podgorza
The Museum tour run by Pawel M. from #goodeventswithpawel was done through the eyes of a local, a man in love with the history of the place he lives in (and he actually lives in Podgorze district!). He had the patience and answered our questions, yet stuck to the 1 hour promised tour, which was filled with plenty of information to enrich everyone.
A Celtic Mound in Krakow
The exhibition starts from the Mound of Krakow (one of Krakow’s 4 man-made mounds). We find out that probably the Mound of Krakow (Krakus Mound) and the Wanda Mound are probably Celtic, not slavic – as the locals would like it to be 😉 We also find out that the oldest monastery in Poland is the St. Benedict’s Church, located near the Krakus mound.
How can we tell that it was done by the Celts? Well… one of the great celebrations done on the Krakus Mound is Beltane (or Beltain – the Gaelic May Day festival). Most commonly it is held on 1 May, or about halfway between the spring equinox and summer solstice. Historically, it was widely observed throughout Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. We, of course, celebrate it in Poland as well, in Krakow. Coincidence? I think not!
The Royal Free City of Podgórze
One of the most important things to trade-in, in Medieval Times, was salt. People back then did not have refrigerators, the only thing that would stop products from spoiling was salt – and the salt mines around Krakow always had plenty of that!
The transport of salt during the Medieval Ages was done by water – via the Vistula River. In the 18th century, in 1784, the city was granted the city status, as the Royal Free City of Podgórze. It was established/founded by the Austrian-Hungary Emperor Joseph the 2nd – the border with Austria being located on the Vistula River!
#DidYouKnow
You might not know this, but…
1. The wonderful bridge that connects Kazimierz to Podgorze, the Kładka Ojca Bernatka was called before the Franz Joseph Bridge.
2. There was a large colonization movement – giving Podgorze the name of “Small America”. Podgorze was more liberal, where Krakow was more bourgeois. Pogorgze was Austrian, though a free city! And was granted city rights, with very attractive tax privileges. This attracted entrepreneurs, merchants, and craftsmen from the Austrian Empire.
Jews and workarounds
The exhibition in Muzeum Podgorza has special displays also on the life of Jews in Podgorze, but does not focus on the Holocaust events as much as one would think. Muzeum Podgorza is a museum of the City of Podgorze, of the district that was annexed to Krakow, not a museum about World War II.
With Pawel, from #goodeventswithpawel I’ve found out many interesting facts about the life of Jewish people in the Royal City of Podgorze. For example, I learned that steps inside their homes do not count for Jews when they have Shabbat. Love of God, time with family, reconnecting with friends and with oneself – all these fulfill the commandment to “remember” Shabbat. So working during it is a total NO!
However, the workaround was that steps done inside one’s home would not count. The houses are always walled against walls, and they would tie them with a rope, making them be considered as one house. So if you would like to go buy some bread from the neighbor, 2-3 houses away, you could do that by going from one house to another. At it would not be considered as leaving your house and breaking the Shabbat.
Podgorze district has light before Krakow!
The first discussions of the merger between the City of Krakow and the City of Podgorze took place at the beginning of the 20th century.
A joint “Agreement concerning the merger of the Royal Free Town of Podgórze with the Royal Capital of Kraków” was drawn up and signed on 7 June 1913. The merger took place on 1 July 1915. A few days later, on 4 July 1915, on Krakus Bridge, the last mayor of Podgórze, Franciszek Maryewski, and the mayor of Kraków, Juliusz Leo, shook hands, symbolically merging the two towns.
But at the time, Podgorze was much more advanced in terms of setup than Krakow. Podgorze even had electricity before Krakow – 5 years before them!!! They had their own power plant (The Municipal Power Plant in Podgórze) that was established in 1899-1900 at 4 Nadwiślańska Street.
Muzeum Podgorza is a museum about the district, done by the district
Throughout the Muzeum Podgorza you can feel that the museum is one-of-a-kind. It is one of Krakow’s Hidden Gems, and – though it may not resonate much with most tourists – it is a work of beauty and love. It shows the love of the locals for their home-place, their love for history, and their passion for making sure none of this gets forgotten.
How to visit Muzeum Podgorza
Unfortunately, now all museums are closed, due to Coronavirus. But once this madness clears up, I suggest you check their website and visit it!
There is the special “Discover Podgorze!” (PL: “Odkryj Podgorze”) route that offers the combined ticket of 3 museums at a lower price. The 3 branches included are Museum of Podgorze + The Eagle Pharmacy + Oskar Schindler’s Enamelware Factory. Once the ticket is bought, the museums can be visited within 3 days of their purchase! The ticket is available at the ticket office of each of the above-mentioned branches and the Visitor Service Center.
NOTE!!! Children up to 7 years old – free admission!
Opening your bedroom window at night reduces the risk of coronavirus infection by 50% – this is the result of research by British scientists quoted by national media. It turns out that poor airflow increases the risk of catching Covid-19. The problem is that the smog season has already begun in the south of Poland when the air quality is deteriorating day by day, so it is not advisable to ventilate the rooms. “The main recommendation at this time is to close the windows at night” – emphasizes Ewa Lutomska from the Krakow Smog Alert.
“The smog season has already begun and one of the recommendations at that time is not to ventilate the apartment”
British scientists are cited by, among others Radio Zet. Researchers point out that poor airflow increases the risk of catching Covid-19. It turns out that airborne Coronavirus particles can travel in microscopic aerosols over a distance of over two meters. The report says that by improving ventilation and increasing air circulation by opening windows, exposure to the virus is cut in half.
The problem is that in many cities and villages – especially in southern Poland – the smog season has just started, their inhabitants burn coal and wood in stoves to heat their homes. This makes the air very polluted again. Representatives of the Krakow Smog Alert (KAS) warn to choose other methods in the capital of Małopolska and neighboring municipalities that will reduce the risk of infection with a dangerous virus than the one suggested by scientists.
The conditions outside the window should be taken into account. Not only in Krakow, but also throughout Poland, because the problem of air pollution affects the entire country. The smog season has already started and one of the recommendations at that time is not to ventilate the apartment when there are high concentrations of suspended dust.
Ewa Lutomska from KAS
Air Quality in Krakow is deteriorating
In fact, the air quality in Krakow has deteriorated more and more in recent days. Particularly at night, the permissible standards are exceeded significantly. The concentration of PM 10 dust has recently been well above 100 micrograms per cubic meter (the acceptable daily standard is 50 µg / m3).
In Krakow, I do not recommend anyone to open windows at night. Air quality is actually deteriorating, the main reason being that residents of neighboring municipalities start heating their homes with coal and wood in the afternoon. And as we know, Krakow is located in a basin, these pollutants flow down to us and the air is of very poor quality at night
Ewa Lutomska from KAS
Invest in air purifiers!
If someone really wants to ventilate the room, it is rather during the day. – But before that, let’s check the air quality. In Krakow, the availability of tools for this purpose is high – emphasizes Lutomska. And he adds that, especially in autumn and winter, it is worth getting an air purifier, which can be an alternative to airing your apartments and houses.
From Gazeta Krakowska (article in PL language) – Nov 16th, 2020.
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