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A6 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 7 November 2020
North Denmark in lockdown over mutated virus in mink farms

By JAN M. OLSEN WHO officials said each
Associated Press case needs to be evalu-
COPENHAGEN, Denmark ated to determine if any of
(AP) — More than a quar- the changes mean the vi-
ter million Danes went into rus behaves differently.
lockdown Friday in a north- "Right now the evidence
ern region of the country that we have doesn't sug-
where a mutated variation gest that this variant is in
of the coronavirus has in- any way different in the
fected minks being farmed way it behaves," he said
for their fur, leading to an in Geneva.Peter Ben Em-
order to kill millions of the barek, a WHO expert on
animals. food safety, said that initial
Prime Minister Mette studies on pigs, chickens
Frederiksen said the move and cattle "show that these
was meant to contain species are not at all sus-
the virus, and it came two ceptible in the same way
days after the government that mink are, for example.
ordered the cull of all 15 So even if these animals
million minks bred at Den- were infected, they would
mark's 1,139 mink farms. not be able to sustain and
The coronavirus evolves spread the disease in the
constantly and, to date, Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen speaks during a press conference in the Prime same way."
Minister's Office in Copenhagen, Thursday Nov. 5, 2020.
there is no evidence that Associated Press Britain on Friday said that
any of the mutations pose people coming from Den-
an increased danger to cultural activities have must close and school stu- were reported among the mark must self-isolate for
people. But Danish authori- been suspended, public dents from fifth grade and stock there. Nationwide, at 14 days, adding the coun-
ties were not taking any transportation has been up will switch to remote least 216 out of the 1,139 try to a list of countries it
chances. stopped and regional bor- learning Monday. fur farms in Denmark have deems risky.
"Instead of waiting for evi- ders have been closed. "We must knock down now been infected. The Danish government
dence, it is better to act Only people with so-called completely this virus vari- Kaare Moelbak of Statens said a mutation of the vi-
quickly," said Tyra Grove "critical functions" such as ant," Health Minister Mag- Serum Institut said the vi- rus had been found in 12
Krause, head department police and health officials nus Heunicke said Thurs- rus variant was registered people infected by minks,
at Statens Serum Institut, a and different authorities day, adding that the mu- in August and September, which farmers have been
government agency that are being permitted to tated virus had been found and no mutations have ordered to cull en masse,
maps the spread of the cross municipal boundar- in 12 people. been found since, so it was but experts said the signifi-
coronavirus in Denmark. ies. Last month, Denmark start- not known if it still exists. The cance of any variant strain
In seven northern Danish People in the region have ed culling millions of minks mutated virus was found in and its effect on humans
municipalities with some been urged to to be tested. in the north of the country five mink farms, according was unclear because it
280,000 residents sport and As of Saturday, restaurants after COVID-19 infections to the government body. was yet to be studied. q

Final votes confirm New Zealand won't legalize marijuana

17 election included those just 26% of the vote and 33 be minister for children.
cast overseas and ac- seats in Parliament. The final vote count barely
counted for about 17% of Ardern and top lawmakers changed the level of sup-
the total vote. in her Cabinet were sworn port for a second referen-
The special votes also in Friday in a ceremony dum to allow euthanasia,
slightly increased the ma- conducted by Governor- which won with 65% ap-
jority of liberal Prime Minis- General Patsy Reddy. Ard- proval.
ter Jacinda Ardern and her ern warned her colleagues Almost 3 million people vot-
Labour Party, which ended about the difficulties they ed in the election, and the
up with just over 50% of the faced with the virus and turnout of 82% was the high-
total vote, and 65 of Parlia- economic downturn. est in more than 20 years.
ment's 120 seats. "You will govern thorough As well as the 65 seats won
It is the first time any single one of the most difficult by Labour and the 33 by
party has commanded a times in New Zealand his- National, the liberal Green
majority in Parliament since tory," Ardern said. Party won 10 seats, the lib-
In this Oct. 17, 2020, file photo, New Zealand's Prime Minister New Zealand introduced a New Deputy Prime Minis- ertarian ACT Party won 10
Jacinda Ardern gestures as she gives her victory speech to proportional voting system ter Grant Robertson will be and the indigenous Maori
Labour Party members at an event in Auckland, New Zealand. 24 years ago. And it's the the first openly gay man to Party won two.
Associated Press first time any single party hold the role. He will also Although the Labour Party
By NICK PERRY though it got close. has won a majority of all continue his previous job as could govern alone, it has
Associated Press The referendum to legal- votes since 1951. finance minister. signed an agreement with
WELLINGTON, New Zealand ize the drug ended up The landslide victory re- Ardern has also assigned the Green Party to work to-
(AP) — New Zealand won't with 48% in support and flected widespread ap- a number of indigenous gether on climate, environ-
be legalizing marijuana af- 51% opposed, a tighten- proval of Ardern's handling Maori lawmakers to top ment and child well-being
ter the final votes counted ing from the election night of the coronavirus pan- positions, including Nanaia issues. Two Green Party
Friday in a referendum split of 46% in favor and demic. The conservative Mahuta, who will take on lawmakers have also been
failed to overturn the result 53% against. The special National Party, the main the role of foreign minister, given ministerial roles out-
from election night — al- votes tallied after the Oct. opposition, ended up with and Kelvin Davis, who will side of the Cabinet.q