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WORLD NEWS Thursday 31 december 2020

Most of England to greet 2021 under strictest virus measures

By JILL LAWLESS the population. Prime Min- with COVID-19 now than
Associated Press ister Boris Johnson said the at the first peak of the out-
LONDON (AP) — The British government “intensively” break in April.
government on Wednes- considered imposing a Britain has recorded more
day extended its toughest nationwide lockdown but than 72,500 confirmed
coronavirus restrictions to had decided against one coronavirus deaths, the
more than three-quarters for now. second-highest death toll
of England’s population, In England’s Tier 4, most in Europe after Italy and the
saying a fast-spreading people are advised to stay sixth-highest worldwide. The
new variant of the virus home, barred from mixing country reported a record
has reached most of the with the members of other number of new confirmed
country. Health Secretary households either indoors cases on Tuesday, more
Matt Hancock said that at or out, nonessential shops than 53,000, and 50,023 on
midnight the government’s are shut and restaurants Wednesday.
top infection-warning level, and bars can only offer The U.K. also reported
Tier 4, would be expanded takeout. Scotland, Wales Wednesday that another Heath Secretary Matt Hancock wears a face mask to curb
beyond London and the and Northern Ireland also 981 people with the coro- the spread of COVID-19 and gives a thumbs up as he leaves
southeast to cover large have implemented strong navirus had died. It was Millbank in Westminster, central London, after the news that a
swaths of central, northern lockdown measures. the highest daily number of COVID-19 vaccine from Oxford University and AstraZeneca has
been approved for use in Britain, Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020.
and southwest England, in- Hospitals in the worst-hit ar- deaths reported since April, Associated Press
cluding the major cities of eas of London and south- although it followed a lag
Manchester and Birming- ern England are becoming in reporting over the Christ- and the hospitalizations approval of the vaccine
ham. increasingly overstretched, mas holidays. that follow demonstrate made by British pharma-
The move will severely cur- with ambulances unable Hancock said Wednes- the need to act where the ceutical company Astra-
tail New Year’s Eve cel- to unload patients at some day’s authorization of a virus is spreading.” Zeneca and Oxford Univer-
ebrations in parts of Eng- hospitals where all the beds second vaccine for use in He told lawmakers in the sity “brings forward the day
land that are home to 44 are occupied. There are the U.K. was good news, House of Commons that on which we can lift the re-
million people, or 78% of more people in hospitals but “sharply rising cases the medicines regulator’s strictions,” q
Canada to require negative test for people entering country

By ROB GILLIES United Kingdom because for the holidays.
Associated Press of the new variant of CO- “We’re going to have a
TORONTO (AP) — The Ca- VID-19 spreading there. very tough conversation
nadian government said The decision came a day when he gets back,” Ford
Wednesday that passen- after the premier of Cana- said. “There can’t be rules
gers must have a negative da’s largest province said for elected people and
COVID-19 test taken within he had ordered his finance nonelected people.”
three days before they ar- minister to end a Caribbe- Ford said Phillips “never told
rive in the country. an vacation he took at a anyone” he was leaving
Intergovernmental Affairs time the government is urg- but Ford said he knew Phil-
Minister Dominic LeBlanc ing people to avoid nones- lips was out of the country
said the measure will be sential travel because of “shortly after he arrived.”
implemented in the next the pandemic. “My mistake. I take full re-
few days. Canada already In this Nov. 3, 2020 file photo, Ontario Finance Minister Rod Phil- Ontario Premier Doug Ford sponsibility. At that time, I
requires those entering the lips speaks at a press conference at Queen’s Park during the said Wednesday it is “un- should have said ‘get your
country to self-isolate for COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto, Canada. acceptable” that Finance backside back into On-
14 days and it has already Associated Press Minister Rod Phillips went to tario’ and I didn’t do that,”
banned all flights from the the French island of St. Barts Ford said. q