After recently recovering from COVID-19 himself, Polish Minister of the Environment Michał Woś is appealing to other coronavirus survivors to donate plasma in order to help others combat the virus. Doctors say the plasma of people who have recovered from COVID-19 contains antibodies that may help seriously ill patients fight the infection. Donors with blood type AB are particularly sought after as their plasma is universal and can be given to people with any blood type. Pregnant women, those over the age of 60 or under the age of 18, or anyone who has had permanent makeup or tattoos done are not eligible to be donors.
If you have recovered from the coronavirus and are eligible to donate, the Regional Blood Donation and Blood Treatment Center asks that you call their infoline at 58 520 40 10. The procedure can be done in Gdańsk or in Kościerzyna from Monday to Friday during office hours.
According to the Polish Ministry of Health, as of 10:00 this morning over 1,500 patients in Poland have recovered from the disease, while over 3,500 are currently hospitalized, and the total number of infected is over 10,000.
Source: PAP, Radio Gdańsk, Ministerstwo Zdrowia
Poland sends doctors to Chicago to help with COVID-19 outbreak
Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszcak announced yesterday that Poland would be sending doctors and supplies to Chicago to help the American city fight the COVID-19 epidemic. “Medical missions have a double benefit,” explained Błaszczak. “On the one hand, we show support to our allies, on the other hand, we acquire knowledge on how to effectively combat the spread of the epidemic.”
The Polish medics will reportedly be supporting local health services in Chicago while gaining valuable experience treating infected patients. The team is set to depart for the United States sometime later today.
Source: PAP
Muslims in Poland prepare for Ramadan
While Orthodox Christians were busy celebrating Easter, Muslims around the world were preparing for the holy month of Ramadan, set to begin tomorrow. Some of those observing the month-long period of religious devotion and fasting are members of Poland’s own Muslim minority, the Lipka Tartars, who have been living in Poland for the past 600 years.
According to Culture.pl, the Lipka Tatars were originally invited to Poland in the 14th century by Vytautas, the Grand Duke of Lithuania, who offered them asylum in appreciation for their efforts in the war against the Teutonic Knights.
Lipka Tatars refer to themselves as “Polish Tatars” or “Poles of Tatar origin,” speak Polish as their native language, and are proud of their contributions to Polish history, including fighting in the Battle of Grunwald, and undertaking a last charge against German infantry in 1939 as part of the 1st Tatar squadron (1 Szwadron Tatarski) of the Polish Army,
The current population of Lipka Tatars in Poland is estimated at less than 5,000; the largest populations can be found in the eastern region of Podlasie, in the capital of Warsaw, and here in Trójmiasto.
Source: Culture.pl
Hedgehog rescued just in time for Earth Day
One lucky hedgehog got a new lease on life yesterday thanks to the valiant efforts of some local passerby. While out for a stroll near Stary Browar in Wrzeszcz yesterday morning, Matthew van der Walt, a Gdańsk resident formerly of South Africa, came across a hedgehog trapped between the bars of a decorative fence.
Despite the best efforts of van der Walt and his companion Paulina Wojciechowska, they were unable to free the animal, whom they dubbed “Henry.” As Henry was struggling to breathe, the pair decided to call the local fire department (Straż Pożarna) fully expecting to be laughed at or scolded.
To the surprise of both van der Walt and Wojciechowska, a firetruck with six firemen soon arrived with “lights on and sirens blaring.” Thanks to their combination of grit, professionalism, and gear, Henry the Hedgehog is now safely roaming the gardens of Gdańsk while hopefully avoiding any additional fences.
For more ways to celebrate Earth Day, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/RadioGdańskNews
Weather
Today will be partly cloudy and mild with a light breeze coming in from the north. Temperatures will peak around a high of 12°C, or 54°F with only a slight drop to 3°C or 38°F overnight. Similar sunny weather is set to persist throughout the week, with warm temps and little to no chance of rain for the rest of the week.
RG News/EP
