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world news Diamars 6 aPriL 2021

UK to ease lockdown next week, will test vaccine passports

(AP) — Britain’s slow but
steady march out of a 3
1/2-month lockdown re-
mains on track even as
coronavirus cases surge
elsewhere in Europe,
Prime Minister Boris
Johnson announced Mon-
day, as he confirmed that
businesses from barbers to
bookstores will be allowed
to reopen next week.

Johnson said it’s too soon to
decide, however, whether
U.K. residents will be able
to have summer trips abroad.
He confirmed that the gov-
ernment will test out a con-
tentious “vaccine passport”
system — a way for people to
offer proof they have protec-
tion from COVID-19 — as a
tool to help travel and large
events return safely.

Four weeks after England
took its first step out of lock- people, or six in 10 adults. nary powers Parliament has vaccine, tested negative for this month.
down by reopening schools, given the government to fight the virus, or recently had
Johnson said Britain’s vacci- The government aims to give the pandemic. The govern- COVID-19 and therefore Conservative legislator Gra-
nation program was proceed- all adults at least one shot of ment said Monday it won’t have some immunity. ham Brady said vaccine pass-
ing well and infections were vaccine by July, and hopes lift the travel ban before May ports would be “intrusive,
falling. He said the next step that a combination of vacci- 17 -- and maybe later. It says the idea will be tested costly and unnecessary.” The
would come as planned on nation and mass testing will at a series of events starting leader of the opposition La-
April 12, with the reopening allow indoor socializing and “The government hopes this month, including soc- bour Party, Keir Starmer,
of hairdressers, beauty salons, large-scale events to return. people will be able to travel cer matches, comedy shows called the idea “un-British.”
gyms, non-essential shops to and from the U.K. to take and marathon races. The
and bar and restaurant patios. It says all adults and chil- a summer holiday this year, government said that for the The government said vaccine
dren in England will be able but it is still too soon to know first events, those attending passports were all but un-
A ban on overnight domestic to have routine coronavirus what is possible,” it said in an will be tested for the virus avoidable, since many coun-
stays away from home will tests twice a week as a way official update. both before and after, “but tries were certain to demand
also be lifted that day, and to stamp out new outbreaks. in later pilots vaccination and proof of COVID-19 status
outdoor venues such as zoos The government said free Once travel resumes, Brit- acquired immunity are ex- for entry. And it said British
and drive-in cinemas can op- lateral flow tests will be avail- ain will rank countries on a pected to be alternative ways businesses were within their
erate again. able free starting Friday by traffic-light system as green, to demonstrate status.” rights to ask customers for
mail, from pharmacies and in yellow or red based on their similar proof. It said “intro-
The measures apply in Eng- workplaces. level of vaccinations, infec- The issue of vaccine pass- ducing a ban on this would in
land. Scotland, Wales and tions and worrying new vari- ports has been hotly debated most cases be an unjustified
Northern Ireland are follow- Lateral flow tests give results ants. People arriving from around the world, raising intrusion on how businesses
ing similar but slightly differ- in minutes but are less accu- “green” countries will have questions about how much choose to make their prem-
ent paths. rate than the PCR swab tests to be tested for the virus but governments, employers and ises safe.”
used to officially confirm won’t face quarantine. venues have a right to know
Britain has recorded almost cases of COVID-19. But the about a person’s virus status. The government said, how-
127,000 coronavirus deaths, government insists they are The government also is test- The idea is opposed by a wide ever, that vaccine passports
the highest toll in Europe. reliable and will help find ing a system of “COVID- swath of British lawmakers, would never be needed to ac-
But infections and deaths people who contract the virus status certification” — often from left-of-center opposi- cess “essential public services,
both have fallen sharply dur- but don't have symptoms. dubbed “vaccine passports” tion politicians to members public transport and essential
ing the current lockdown and — that would allow people of Johnson’s Conservative shops,” and venues like pubs
since the start of a vaccination Britons are currently banned seeking to travel or attend Party, and the policy could and restaurants would not be
campaign that has given a first by law from going on holiday events to show they either face stiff opposition when it asked to use them for at least
dose to more than 31 million abroad under the extraordi- have received a coronavirus is put before Parliament later the next few months.

Gunmen attack prison in southeastern Nigeria holding 1,500

(AP) — Heavily armed gunmen attacked po- The coordinated attacks come less than two weeks Police said the attackers used machine guns, rock-
lice and military buildings along with a prison after another wave of violence in southeastern Ni- et-propelled grenades and improvised explosive
holding at least 1,500 inmates in southeastern geria, when at least a dozen security officers were devices during the overnight violence.
Nigeria and an untold number of them may killed during attacks on four police stations, mili-
have escaped, authorities said Monday. tary checkpoints and prison vehicles. “The attempt by the attackers to gain access to the
police armory at the headquarters was totally and
The attacks began around 2 a.m. in the town of There was no immediate claim of responsibility appropriately resisted,” the statement said.
Owerri in Imo state and last for about two hours, but the Nigeria inspector general of police blamed
according to local resident Uche Okafor. Gunmen a paramilitary wing of a secessionist movement ac- The Eastern Security Network, or ESN, has said
also assaulted various other government buildings tive in the region called the Eastern Security Net- it is fighting for the protection of the Igbo people
around the same time, authorities said. work. from foreign armed invaders killing their people.