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Pandemic Forces Poland to Delay Presidential Election Pandemic Forces Poland to Delay Presidential Election
(32 minutes later)
WARSAW — Poland’s presidential election has been postponed just days before the governing party planned to go forward with a hastily organized, mail-in vote that had been denounced by opposition candidates as a power grab.WARSAW — Poland’s presidential election has been postponed just days before the governing party planned to go forward with a hastily organized, mail-in vote that had been denounced by opposition candidates as a power grab.
The vote, which had been set for Sunday, would have been Europe’s first presidential election during the pandemic, but the timing has been contentious since the coronavirus swept across the continent. Opposition candidates — who had to halt their campaigns because of the crisis — had called on the government to reschedule.The vote, which had been set for Sunday, would have been Europe’s first presidential election during the pandemic, but the timing has been contentious since the coronavirus swept across the continent. Opposition candidates — who had to halt their campaigns because of the crisis — had called on the government to reschedule.
The governing Law and Justice Party had been determined to shift to an all-mail vote — one in which its candidate, the incumbent Andrzej Duda, had been seen as the clear favorite.The governing Law and Justice Party had been determined to shift to an all-mail vote — one in which its candidate, the incumbent Andrzej Duda, had been seen as the clear favorite.
But the required legislation was fiercely contested, and there was little time to organize postal ballots for more than 30 million citizens. The effort itself appeared to run afoul of Poland’s Constitution, which says changes should not be made to electoral law less than six months before a scheduled election.But the required legislation was fiercely contested, and there was little time to organize postal ballots for more than 30 million citizens. The effort itself appeared to run afoul of Poland’s Constitution, which says changes should not be made to electoral law less than six months before a scheduled election.
The Law and Justice Party’s plan came to an abrupt end late Wednesday, when it and its junior partner in the coalition announced that they would delay the vote, blaming the opposition though offering no other reasoning for the move.The Law and Justice Party’s plan came to an abrupt end late Wednesday, when it and its junior partner in the coalition announced that they would delay the vote, blaming the opposition though offering no other reasoning for the move.
But leaders of the Law and Justice Party are still pressing publicly for a quick election, aware that a period of sustained economic pain will follow the lifting of the national lockdown and fearful that voters will take it out on them.But leaders of the Law and Justice Party are still pressing publicly for a quick election, aware that a period of sustained economic pain will follow the lifting of the national lockdown and fearful that voters will take it out on them.
Poland’s democratic institutions have been rattled by the actions of the governing party, analysts say, and the pandemic has further shaken that order. Though the country still has a vibrant civil society and strong opposition parties, it is at risk of democratic disintegration, a report by Freedom House warned on Thursday.Poland’s democratic institutions have been rattled by the actions of the governing party, analysts say, and the pandemic has further shaken that order. Though the country still has a vibrant civil society and strong opposition parties, it is at risk of democratic disintegration, a report by Freedom House warned on Thursday.
In recent weeks, the European Court of Justice ordered Warsaw to halt a disciplinary regime for judges that was widely seen as politically motivated. And just last week, the European Commission opened another legal case over a more recent Polish law that seeks to punish judges who criticize the government’s judicial overhaul.In recent weeks, the European Court of Justice ordered Warsaw to halt a disciplinary regime for judges that was widely seen as politically motivated. And just last week, the European Commission opened another legal case over a more recent Polish law that seeks to punish judges who criticize the government’s judicial overhaul.
“If Poland continues on this course, it will join hybrid regimes and autocracies that routinely mete out politicized justice,” Freedom House said in its report.“If Poland continues on this course, it will join hybrid regimes and autocracies that routinely mete out politicized justice,” Freedom House said in its report.
Voting during the pandemic has proved challenging around the world, with elections in over 50 nations put on hold in recent weeks, according to the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance.Voting during the pandemic has proved challenging around the world, with elections in over 50 nations put on hold in recent weeks, according to the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance.
In Poland’s case, the National Electoral Commission, Poland’s commissioner for human rights and international bodies like the European Parliament and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe all warned that it was impossible to hold fair elections in the time frame envisioned by the government.In Poland’s case, the National Electoral Commission, Poland’s commissioner for human rights and international bodies like the European Parliament and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe all warned that it was impossible to hold fair elections in the time frame envisioned by the government.
Poland was one of the first countries in Europe to react to the outbreak, with a strict lockdown and closure of its borders. Almost two months since it first introduced a requirement that people wear protective masks in public, among other measures, Poland has a relatively low number of infections. As of Thursday, about 15,000 cases of Covid-19 and 755 deaths had been reported.Poland was one of the first countries in Europe to react to the outbreak, with a strict lockdown and closure of its borders. Almost two months since it first introduced a requirement that people wear protective masks in public, among other measures, Poland has a relatively low number of infections. As of Thursday, about 15,000 cases of Covid-19 and 755 deaths had been reported.
Like many other countries in Europe, Poland has started relaxing some restrictions, reopening hotels, shopping malls and sports arenas as well as some museums and art galleries. It is also set to allow some international travel.Like many other countries in Europe, Poland has started relaxing some restrictions, reopening hotels, shopping malls and sports arenas as well as some museums and art galleries. It is also set to allow some international travel.
But it could be a temporary reprieve. According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Poland is one of a few countries in the European Union where the epidemic is not slowing down.But it could be a temporary reprieve. According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Poland is one of a few countries in the European Union where the epidemic is not slowing down.
In pressing to go forward with the vote, Law and Justice had made the case for unity and continuity. “What we need today, among other conditions to resist the crisis, is also political stability,” said Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the leader of Law and Justice, in a recent radio interview.In pressing to go forward with the vote, Law and Justice had made the case for unity and continuity. “What we need today, among other conditions to resist the crisis, is also political stability,” said Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the leader of Law and Justice, in a recent radio interview.
Updated June 30, 2020
Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
Scientists around the country have tried to identify everyday materials that do a good job of filtering microscopic particles. In recent tests, HEPA furnace filters scored high, as did vacuum cleaner bags, fabric similar to flannel pajamas and those of 600-count pillowcases. Other materials tested included layered coffee filters and scarves and bandannas. These scored lower, but still captured a small percentage of particles.
A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico.
The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth.
The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave.
So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement.
Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study.
The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April.
If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)
If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
When it was clear that the May election could not take place as normal, the government pushed a bill through the lower house of Parliament in less than four hours that called for the vote to be done by mail.When it was clear that the May election could not take place as normal, the government pushed a bill through the lower house of Parliament in less than four hours that called for the vote to be done by mail.
The legislation then moved to the opposition-controlled Senate, which does not have the power to entirely reject bills. Senate leaders said they would delay it for as long as was in their power: 30 days, or until just four days before the scheduled vote.The legislation then moved to the opposition-controlled Senate, which does not have the power to entirely reject bills. Senate leaders said they would delay it for as long as was in their power: 30 days, or until just four days before the scheduled vote.
The government insisted it would not be deterred.The government insisted it would not be deterred.
In order to make sure that the election went ahead as scheduled, it appointed its deputy defense minister as the head of the Polish postal service. When some local governments refused to share voters’ personal data with the postal service, arguing they could not do it until the relevant law was passed, officials tried to retrieve the data from one of the ministries but it turned out to be incomplete.In order to make sure that the election went ahead as scheduled, it appointed its deputy defense minister as the head of the Polish postal service. When some local governments refused to share voters’ personal data with the postal service, arguing they could not do it until the relevant law was passed, officials tried to retrieve the data from one of the ministries but it turned out to be incomplete.
On Wednesday night, when it was still not clear if an election would take place as scheduled or how exactly voters would cast their ballots, the candidates met for the first and only official presidential debate. It was a bizarre spectacle: a debate that included opposition candidates who were boycotting the election.On Wednesday night, when it was still not clear if an election would take place as scheduled or how exactly voters would cast their ballots, the candidates met for the first and only official presidential debate. It was a bizarre spectacle: a debate that included opposition candidates who were boycotting the election.
Less than an hour after the debate ended, the governing coalition, apparently yielding to the large practical problems, issued its statement delaying the vote. The Supreme Court is expected to void Sunday’s election and the speaker of the lower chamber will set a new date.Less than an hour after the debate ended, the governing coalition, apparently yielding to the large practical problems, issued its statement delaying the vote. The Supreme Court is expected to void Sunday’s election and the speaker of the lower chamber will set a new date.
That vote is expected to take place in June or July.That vote is expected to take place in June or July.
It, too, may take the form of an all mail-in vote.It, too, may take the form of an all mail-in vote.