The World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, scheduled for January 17-21, 2022, will be postponed until early summer due to the uncertainty caused by the spread of the new COVID-19 strain “omicron.”

“In the current context of the coronavirus pandemic, global face-to-face events are exceptionally challenging,” the WEF said in a statement. – “Although strict medical protocols are in place for the forum, the high contagiousness of Omicron and the implications of this situation on tourism and mobility necessitated the postponement of the event.”

Every year in late January, the annual WEF meeting in Davos, Switzerland, brings together the world’s political and business elite. This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the forum was held in an online format.

The WEF said in a statement that in January 2022, instead of a face-to-face meeting, a series of online sessions will be held, with participants focusing on “developing solutions to the world’s most pressing problems.” Meanwhile, the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) is to be held next year on June 15-18 in a face-to-face format.