Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has joined US and EU world leaders in calling to make COVID-19 vaccine patents available to poorer countries. Speaking ahead of this weekend’s EU Summit, Morawiecki said he would “strive to convince the richest countries which are also patent holders to make these patents available as there is a need “to eliminate the epidemic across the world.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen responded by welcoming Morawiecki’s call to step up efforts to share COVID-19 vaccines worldwide.
This weekend’s EU Summit in Porto will focus on social issues, such as welfare, equality, jobs, and education as the 27-nation bloc emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Source: Radio Poland, PAP
Today marks the 76th anniversary of the end of WWII in Europe, known in the US and Britain as “Victory in Europe” or “VE” Day.
On this day in 1945, the Allied powers, which included Great Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union, formally accepted Germany’s unconditional surrender, bringing an end to six years of brutal warfare across the European continent.
In honor of the many Polish citizens who lost their lives during WWII, local government and cultural representatives took part in a ceremony held at the Cemetery of the Victims of Hitlerism in Gdańsk Zaspa yesterday evening. The City of Gdańsk will also hold its traditional ceremony today at the “Tym, co za polskość Gdańska” monument on Podwale Staromiejskie in the Gdańsk city center.
WWII officially ended on September 2, 1945, when the Imperial Japanese government officially surrendered to American troops aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.
Source: Radio Gdańsk
The Pomeranian Voivodeship is ranked first in Poland for the number of COVID-19 vaccinations per ten thousand inhabitants, according to data from the Ministry of Health.
Over 830,000 (830, 307) residents of Pomerania have received their first vaccine shot, and nearly a quarter of a million residents are now fully vaccinated.
There are roughly 400 vaccination points in Pomerania, including mass vaccination sites in Gdańsk and Gdynia and three drive-thru sites in Trójmiasto, where vaccine injections can be obtained without leaving the car.
More information on vaccine registration is available online or by calling 989.
Source: Radio Gdańsk
As of today, hotels across Poland can resume operations as part of phased plans to ease pandemic restrictions.
Hotels are allowed to reopen on May 8 at 50% occupancy, but their restaurants and spa or wellness areas will remain closed to the public.
As of May 15, outdoor dining or “gastronomic gardens” will be allowed to open, and the requirement to wear masks outdoors in open spaces will no longer be in force. Open-air cinemas and theatres will also be allowed to open next week, with limited attendance and strict sanitary requirements.
Source: Radio Gdańsk
Polish judo competitor Agata Ozdoba-Błach took home a gold medal at the judo grand slam tournament in Kazan, Russia, this past week.
After defeating Russia’s Ekaterina Valkova in the semi-final last Thursday, Ozdoba-Błach went on to beat Beijing Olympics bronze medallist Ketleyn Quadros of Brazil in the under-63 kg category.
This year’s Judo Grand Slam tournament in Kazan ran from May 5-7 and featured over 400 male and female athletes from 79 different countries. Judo athletes are now preparing for the World Judo Championships in Budapest next month, before the official start of the Tokyo Olympics in July.
Source: Radio Poland, https://www.ijf.org/
Weather
Today will be mostly cloudy and cool, with a strong breeze coming in from the southwest and a chance of rain into the early evening. Temperatures will peak at a high of 10°C, or 5°F, dropping to a low of 2°C or 36°F overnight. Sunshine and much warmer weather are expected for tomorrow and should last through Wednesday.
EP/pb
