Poland has detected its first case of the Omicron COVID-19 variant, a deputy health minister was cited as saying on Thursday by state-run news agency PAP.
Waldemar Kraska said the variant had been detected by sanitary authorities in the southern city of Katowice, the agency reported.
Poland has been dealing with persistently high daily case numbers in a fourth wave that has forced authorities to tighten restrictions.
So far Poland, a country of around 38 million people, has reported 3,903,445 cases of the coronavirus and 90,306 deaths.
Poland imposed new regulations on Wednesday to curb the spread of the virus, further limiting numbers in some public spaces such as restaurants and closing nightclubs.
Countries around the world are tightening restrictions ahead of the festive season following the emergence of the new fast-spreading Omicron variant last month, which has now been detected in 77 countries.
Photo – Polish Senators attend the candle lighting ceremony in the Senate Gardens in Warsaw, Poland, on Tuesday. Candles were lit to commemorate the victims of Covid-19. EPA-EFE/RAFAL GUZ
