The new variant of COVID-19 designated B.1.1529 or “Omicron,” has appeared in Belgium after first being identified in South Africa.

On Friday, the Belgian Minister of Health announced that an unvaccinated woman returning from Egypt on November 11 began to show symptoms on November 22 and was later diagnosed with the new variant. 

The head of the European Commission, Urszula von der Leyen, has called for the suspension of air connections to places where the new variant of the coronavirus has been detected. As a result, several EU countries have suspended direct flights from South Africa and the surrounding region.

Meanwhile, at a hospital in Rome, a team has been formed to investigate the new variant.

Source: Radio Gdańsk, Reuters, Radio Poland

Poland on Saturday reported over 26,000 (26,182) new coronavirus infections and 378 additional deaths related to Covid-19, a significant increase over numbers from last week.

In Pomerania, nearly 1,400 (1,397) new infections were reported on Saturday out of over 6,000 (6,062) tests in the region, with an additional 7 deaths attributed to the disease.

Speaking in Kartuzy over the weekend, government spokesman Piotr Müller suggested that new restrictions could be possible depending on the capacity of the medical care system. Müller went on to indicate that vaccinated individuals would likely be exempt from additional restrictions.

In Poland, almost 2.5 million people have received a third “booster” dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Nearly 41.5 million vaccinations against COVID have been administered as of Saturday, and roughly 20.5 million people in Poland are fully vaccinated.

Source: Radio Gdańsk, Radio Poland

A draft of judicial reforms proposed last week by officials of the Ministry of Justice is set to be submitted to the Chancellery of the Prime Minister.

According to an announcement by Deputy Minister of Justice Sebastian Kaleta, the proposed reforms include a streamlined organization of the common court structure and changes in the division of judges’ responsibilities.

Under the proposals presented in mid-November, all judges would be granted the status of common court judge and be appointed only once; judicial points would also be introduced in each gmina.

Source: Radio Gdańsk, polskieradio.pl

The „SOS – Pomoc” bus is set to start touring Gdańsk again in order to support the homeless through the difficult winter season and the ongoing pandemic.

Starting tomorrow, those who are without shelter or otherwise in need can count on a bowl of hot soup and access to warm clothes. Social workers and paramedics will provide additional assistance.

The bus runs daily and has a set route: Around 20:15, it will be at the bus terminus at the SKM station in Przymorze, around 21:15 it can be found in the parking lot between the market square and the police station at ul. Biała in Wrzeszcz, and around 22:15, the SOS bus will be parked in the bus bay next to the former „Krewetka” cinema opposite Dworzec Głowny.

Source: Radio Gdańsk

Today is the last day to experience “Gdańsk Biographies” or “National Minorities Days” at Teatr Miniatura.

The annual 3-day celebration features representatives of different minorities presenting their culture and heritage through various artistic works. The festival kicked off earlier this weekend with a performative reading of Agnieszka Kochanowska’s new book, „How We Got Here.”

Today’s lineup includes an exploratory cultural walk around Wrzeszcz at 12:30, a book discussion with Belarusian author Uladzimir Neklayev at 15:30, and a series of concerts by Belarusian, Ukrainian, and Lithuanian musicians starting at 17:00.

Admission to the 18th edition of Gdańsk Biographies – National Minorities Days is free, but participants must register in person at the box office of Teatr Miniatura, via telephone at 601 628 377 or 58 341 94 83, or by e-mail at bilety@teatrminiatura.pl.

Source: Radio Gdańsk, gdansk.pl

Weather

Today will start out foggy and cold, with a good chance for rain beginning in the late afternoon and winds coming in from the south. Temperatures will peak around a high of 3°C, or 38°F, dropping overnight to a chilly low of 1°C or 34°F.  Similar cloudy, wet weather is expected Monday and Tuesday, with an additional chance for snow later in the week.

Elizabeth Peck/tm