Additional US troops from the 82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, arrived in Poland at an airport outside of Rzeszów yesterday.
According to Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby, the deployment aims to send a „strong signal” to Russian President Vladimir Putin „and frankly, to the world, that NATO matters to the United States and it matters to our allies.”

Around 4,500 American troops are already stationed in Poland on a rotating basis, with an additional 1,700 expected to arrive in the coming days.

The move comes in response to the continuing buildup of Russian troops and equipment along the Ukrainian border and ongoing fears of an imminent Russian invasion.

In a report from Reuters yesterday, two US officials warned that „Russia has in place 70% of the combat power” necessary to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with additional battalion tactical groups still arriving.

Source: Radio Poland, Reuters

A manufacturing plant in the central Polish town of Konstantynów Łódzki has begun producing a vital ingredient of the new Novavax COVID-19 vaccine.

According to Euractiv, the news comes after Polish biotechnology firm Mabion struck a deal with US drug maker Novavax to produce a version of their COVID-19 vaccine.

Mabion has now launched production of the key active ingredient of Novavax’s soon-to-be-marketed Nuvaxovid shot in a project co-financed by the Polish government, making Poland one of the world’s most important vaccine producers.

If approved by the European Commission, Nuvaxovid would become the fifth COVID-19 vaccine authorized for adults in the EU and the only approved vaccine that uses traditional protein-based technology rather than newer mRNA technology.

According to project researchers, third-stage clinical trials have shown Nuvaxovid to be 90.4 percent effective at preventing a severe course of COVID-19.

Source: Radio Poland, euractiv.pl, yalemedicine.org

Daily infection rates continue to remain high as the fifth wave of the coronavirus pandemic continues across Poland and the rest of Europe.

Yesterday, the Health Ministry reported 45,749 new coronavirus infections and 272 additional deaths related to COVID-19, with the weekly average (46,384) similar to numbers reported a week ago (47,780).

Of the new cases confirmed on Saturday, most were in regions of Mazowieckie (6536), followed by Silesia (6098) and Wielkopolskie (5460). In Pomerania, 3,216 new cases were reported yesterday, with an additional 25 deaths.

Over 21.8 million Poles have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and an additional 10.2 million have received a third booster shot. Last week, the Health Ministry also reported that over a thousand certificates had been issued for those with compromised immunity to receive a fourth dose of the vaccine.

Source: Radio Gdańsk, Radio Poland

Polish conductor Anna Duczmal-Mróz has become the third Polish woman ever to win the prestigious Taki Alsop Conducting Fellowship (TACF).

Launched two decades ago by world-renowned conductor Marin Alsop and financed by Japanese business mogul Tomio Taki, the fellowship provides intensive coaching and mentorship to aspiring female conductors from around the world.

Duczmal-Mróz will serve as assistant conductor to Alsop during concerts across Europe and the United States for the next two years. The fellowship also includes a chance to conduct the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at the annual Ravinia Festival in Chicago, as well as a $20,000 honorarium.

Source: Radio Poland

Experts from the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management have issued a first-degree warning for strong winds in the coastal areas of Pomerania from now until Monday morning.

The warning applies specifically to the poviats of Słupsk, Lębork, Puck, Wejherowo, Nowodworski, Gdynia and Gdańsk. Residents of these areas are reminded to exercise additional caution in coastal regions due to the potential for debris and storm surges.

Source: Radio Gdańsk

Weather

Today will be mostly cloudy and cold, with a chance for rain throughout the day and strong winds from the southwest. Temperatures will peak around a high of 6°C, or 42°F, dropping to an overnight low of 1°C or 34°F.  Similar temps are expected tomorrow, with a chance for some sun in the afternoon before clouds and rain showers return on Tuesday.

Elizabeth Peck/MarWer