Thousands of Polish pilgrims were making their way to the holiest site in the staunchly Catholic country on Thursday, shrugging off record COVID-19 infection data that has forced authorities to tighten restrictions in some counties. The health ministry reported 811 infection cases across Poland on August 13.

The European Union will likely impose new sanctions on Belarus as soon as later this month, diplomats and officials said, after President Alexander Lukashenko cracked down on protests triggered by a disputed election.

Polish Defence Minister, Mariusz Błaszczak, has attended a military training of U.S. and Polish soldiers in the northwest of Poland, ahead of the planned visit of the United States Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo. The latter is expected to visit Warsaw on Saturday (August 15) to sign a defence cooperation deal with Poland. On Wednesday, however, Pompeo visited Prague where he met with Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis and and Czech President Milos Zeman.

Polish officials who break the law with the intention of containing the coronavirus pandemic could go unpunished, according to a bill proposed by ruling party lawmakers.

Lithuania, Poland and Latvia are ready to mediate between the Belarusian government and the opposition after Sunday's presidential election prompted bloody street protests, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said on Wednesday (August 12). The use of violence by Belarusian authorities to peaceful protests has also been condemned by the United Nations human rights chief Michelle Bachelet.

Belarus said on Wednesday that police had fired live rounds at protesters in the city of Brest and arrested more than 1,000 people nationwide, intensifying a crackdown that has prompted the European Union to weigh new sanctions on Minsk. The EU has condemned the violence and unjustified arrests.

The Ministry of Health informed on Tuesday about 551 newly confirmed coronavirus cases, and the death of 12 people. In total, Poland has reported 52,961 cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection since the start of the pandemic, of which 1821 turned out to be fatal.

Protest groups in Belarus are trying to use limited access to the Telegram messaging service to coordinate anti-government action, but say an internet shutdown they blame on the authorities has been effective in slowing them down.

The European Union's relationship with Belarus is under review following the contested presidential election, the European Commission said on Tuesday, though it declined to comment on whether sanctions would be reimposed on the country. Over 2,000 people contesting the Sunday's presidential election have been detained after heavy clashes with the police across the country. Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanouskaya has fled to Lithuania with her children in fear of their safety.

Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has called on the leaders of the European Commission and the European Council to hold a special European Union summit on Belarus, the cabinet said on Monday. Polish Press Agency (PAP) quoted an EU source claiming that the European Council chief Charles Michel had reassured Morawiecki that the question of Belarus would be discussed at an EU summit in September. Furthermore, Poland's foreign minister Jacek Czaputowicz said he could not rule out imposing sanctions on Belarus.

Poland's health ministry informed on Monday about further 619 coronavirus infection cases and the death of two people. Since the start of the pandemic, Poland has reported 52,410 infection and 1809 deaths. Within the last two weeks, seven daily infection records have been reported. The highest number so far - 843 cases - was reported on Saturday, August 8.

Hundreds of protesters surrounded a police van on Friday in central Warsaw to try to block it from driving away after officers detained an activist who hung LGBT flags on statues in the city last week.

Dutch cyclist Fabio Jakobsen, who was put in a medically-induced coma after crashing at the finish line in the Tour of Poland's first stage on Wednesday, is awake and in good condition, tour organizers said on Friday.

Poland reported 809 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, the sixth record daily rise in less than 10 days, but Deputy Prime Minister Jacek Sasin ruled out a new nationwide lockdown.

Polish President Andrzej Duda was sworn in for a second five-year term in the Polish parliament on Thursday (August 6) after narrowly winning re-election last month.

Poland on Thursday reported a record number of coronavirus infections for the fifth time since last week, the health ministry said, as it announced renewed local restrictions to counter the spike in cases.

"We would like to base the work system in the coming school year on a traditional model, in which classes are held in schools" - the minister of education Dariusz Piontkowski said on Wednesday. Decisions on whether to organise remote classes for all or some children are to be taken jointly by headmasters, school supervisory bodies and sanitary services.

The health ministry on Tuesday informed about 680 newly confirmed cases of coronavirus infections, as well as of the death of six infected persons. This is the highest daily number of infections recorded in Poland so far, and fourth record-breaking number within the last seven days. Since the start of the pandemic, Poland has reported a total of 48,149 infection cases, of which 1738 were fatal.

Poland's Supreme Court ruled on Monday that presidential election, won by incumbent president Andrzej Duda, were valid. The court had earlier on examined thousands of electoral protests, including a bid by the centrist Civic Platform party for an election re-run, and decided that only 92 had valid grounds, yet had not had any impact on the final results.

The Ministry of Health informed on Monday about 575 newly confirmed coronavirus infection cases and the death of 1 person. Since the start of the pandemic, Poland has reported 47,469 infections and 1732 deaths so far.

Poland reported its highest number of new coronavirus cases for a third day in a row on Saturday with 658, the Health Ministry said.

The United States will establish a permanent military presence in Poland as it deploys around 1,000 additional U.S. troops there, Poland's Defence Ministry said on Friday.

The Polish government is considering taking new steps to curb the spread of COVID-19 after the number of new cases rose by a record amount for the second successive day. On Thursday, the Health Ministry said 615 infections were recorded, which was the new record only until Friday, when 657 cases were reported. In total, Poland has reported 45,688 infections and 1,716 deaths so far.

Poland's highest constitutional court is to scrutinize a European pact on violence against women, the prime minister said on Thursday, after a cabinet member said Warsaw should quit the treaty which the nationalist government considers too liberal.

Poland reported its highest daily rise in coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic on Thursday, with 615 new infections, according to the health ministry's Twitter account. The ministry also announced the deaths of a further 15 people. Poland has reported a total of 45,031 infections and 1,709 deaths so far.

"We regret the mis-representations and deliberate misinformation about the aims and purpose of the Istanbul Convention and their use for narrow ideological purposes" - the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) said in a statement referring to Poland's justice minister plans. Zbigniew Ziobro wants Polish government to withdraw from the convention tackling domestic violence, including violence against women.

The Ministry of Health informed on Tuesday (July 28) about 502 newly confirmed coronavirus infection cases and the death of 6 people. Since the start of the pandemic, Poland has reported 43,904 infections and 1682 deaths so far.

The Ministry of Health informed on Monday about 337 newly confirmed coronavirus infections and the death of 5 people. Since the start of the pandemic, Poland has reported 43,402 infections, of which 1676 infected people have died so far.

The overall debt that Poles owe to their lenders has risen by 1,2 bln zloty in April and May, due to overdue credit and bills payments. The number is twice as high compared to 2019, according to a InfoDług report. The overall sum of this type of debt has equalled nearly 81 bln zloty.

Poland's justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro's has vowed to submit a motion aimed at withdrawing his country from the Istanbul Convention, which condemns all forms of violence against women and domestic violence. The minister, who is also the leader of a junior coalition partner party United Poland, has said the convention contains harmful, ideological elements. However, a government official told TVN24 on Saturday that the cabinet had not made any decisions in that regard.