Britain clinched a narrow Brexit trade deal with the European Union last Thursday, just seven days before the UK exits one of the world’s biggest trading blocs in its most significant global shift since the loss of empire.
The UK formally left the EU on Jan. 31 last year but has since been in a transition period under which trade, travel, and business rules remained unchanged until the end of this year.
The details of the last-minute accord have yet to be made public, but leaders across the EU’s 27 member states have cast the agreement as a way to avoid the nightmare of a „no-deal” exit.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted a picture of himself giving a thumbs up and happily proclaiming, “The deal is done.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also praised the “fair and balanced agreement,” finishing with the definitive statement that “Europe is now moving on.”
Source: Radio Poland, PAP
Additional COVID restrictions in place as of today
A series of additional COVID restrictions are set to go into effect today, with the national quarantine set to remain in place until the 17th of January or later.
Most of the restrictions are not new, such as the requirement to wear masks at all times and the continued closure of restaurants, fitness centers, and cultural offerings such as museums and cinemas. Nonessential stores and shopping malls, however, will again be closed, along with ski resorts, hotels, and other lodging facilities.
Special shopping hours have once again been set aside for seniors. At the same time, children under the age of 16 are only allowed to leave their homes under adult supervision between 8:00 and 16:00. Gatherings of more than five people are also forbidden. However, people who live or work together are exempt from this rule.
Additionally, anyone arriving in Poland on organized transport between December 28 and January 17 will have to undergo a 10-day quarantine.
Source: Radio Poland, Radio Gdańsk
In a bit of positive news, the curfew that was set to be imposed on New Year’s Eve has been rescinded
The Polish government had planned to restrict movement from 19:00 on December 31 to 6:00 on January 1, a move that would reportedly require the government to declare a state of emergency. In an announcement yesterday, Prime Minister Morawiecki declared that there would be no curfew and appealed to residents to stay home and limit the size of their holiday gatherings.
Source: Radio Gdańsk, Radio Poland, Trójmiasto.pl
Nurse gets first vaccination in Poland
Alicja Jakubowska, the head nurse of the Temporary Hospital at Warsaw’s National Stadium, has become the first person in Poland to receive the coronavirus vaccine after being inoculated yesterday morning.
Ms. Jakubowska was joined by epidemic nurse Małgorzata Sobania, who became the first person in Pomerania to be vaccinated after receiving her shot yesterday at the Pomeranian Center for Infectious Diseases and Tuberculosis in Gdańsk.
Vaccinations are set to continue through the week, with priority being given to healthcare staff, followed by residents in nursing homes, people over 60, police, soldiers, and teachers. Some 300,000 healthcare workers have already signed up to be inoculated against COVID-19 in the first „zero” stage of the national vaccination program.
Poles who are in non-priority groups will be able to sign up for COVID-19 shots from January 15, according to an announcement made last Wednesday by Health Minister Adam Niedzielski.
Source: Radio Poland, Radio Gdańsk
Robert Lewandowski again named Player of the Year
In addition to being declared The Best FIFA Men’s Player of the Year for 2020 earlier this month, star striker Robert Lewandowski was named Player of the Year at the 2020 Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai over the weekend.
The Polish goal-machine beat second-placed Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and third-placed Argentine ace Lionel Messi to walk away with the prize at the glamorous annual gala on Sunday.
Lewandowski was also voted the world’s best football player in 2020 in an annual poll held by the British newspaper “The Guardian” last week and was named UEFA Player of the Year earlier in October.
As a striker for Champions League winners Bayern Munich and Poland’s national team captain, the 32-year-old Lewandowski scored 47 goals in 44 games this year.
Source: Radio Poland
Weather
Today will be mostly cloudy and cool, with strong winds coming in from the southwest and a chance for rain throughout the day. Temperatures will remain above freezing, with a high of 5°C, or 41°F, dropping to a low of 1°C or 34°F. Similar wet weather is expected tomorrow, with a chance for some sunshine later in the week.
Elizabeth Peck/mw
