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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 17 March 2020
UK ramps up virus fight; 12-week isolation for over-70s

By JILL LAWLESS and PAN illness — the elderly and
PYLAS people with serious health
Associated Press problems.
LONDON (AP) — British au- Britain's approach had
thorities on Monday dra- come under increasing
matically ramped up mea- pressure as neighboring
sures to combat the new countries went into lock-
coronavirus, urging all U.K. downs and closed their bor-
residents to avoid unnec- ders in response to the new
essary contact with others virus. Some scientists urged
and telling people in the more severe restrictions to
most vulnerable groups enforce "social distancing"
to stay at home for three and slow the spread of the
months. virus.
Prime Minister Boris John- For most people, the new
son said "now is the time for coronavirus causes only
everyone to stop non-es- mild or moderate symp-
sential contact with others toms, such as fever and
and to stop all unnecessary cough, and most recover.
travel." The worldwide outbreak
"You should avoid pubs, has sickened over 179,000
clubs, theaters and other people and left more than
such social venues," he A commuter covers her face in London, Monday, March 16, 2020. For most people, the new coro- 7,000 dead. Over 78,000
said at a news conference navirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. people have recovered,
alongside his chief medical Associated Press most of them in China.
and scientific advisers. The outbreak has already
Authorities said people was starting to rise rapidly schools in most other Eu- break peaks in two or three had a huge effect on ev-
over 70, those with chron- and "without drastic ac- ropean countries, those in months. eryday life in Britain. Rider-
ic illnesses and pregnant tion" they could double Britain remain open. Until Monday, Britons had ship on trains and the Lon-
women should be "shield- every five or six days. As of "We think that, on balance, been told merely to wash don Underground is down
ed" from social contacts Monday, Britain had 1,543 best to keep schools open their hands frequently and by a fifth as some business-
for 12 weeks, starting this confirmed cases and 53 but appreciate that this to stay at home for a week es ask staff to work from
weekend. virus-related deaths. is something we need to if they have a fever or con- home. Universities are mov-
The U.K. had previously re- British authorities now say if keep under review," John- tinuous cough. ing classes online and sev-
sisted taking some of the anyone in a household has son said. The U.K. strategy is based eral of London's West End
tough measures seen in a fever or persistent cough, Britain lags behind coun- on the presumption that theaters have shut down,
other European countries, everyone there should stay tries such as Italy, Germany most people will eventually with more expected to fol-
which have banned large at home for 14 days. and France in the number get the virus. Britain's goal low.
events, shut schools and Johnson also said the gov- of infections, and the gov- is to slow the spread of the Supermarkets have been
closed their borders to slow ernment would no longer ernment's scientific advisers infection so the country's stripped of staples includ-
the spread of the COVID-19 give emergency-services have said that implement- overstretched National ing toilet paper, pasta and
illness. support to large gather- ing draconian measures Health Service is not over- rice as shoppers ignore
But Johnson said Monday ings, though he did not ban too early will make them whelmed, while protecting government appeals not
the number of U.K. cases them outright. And unlike harder to sustain as the out- those most at risk of serious to hoard supplies.q

5-year sentence for French priest who abused boy scouts

By NICOLAS VAUX-MON- cardinals and other senior has recognized his guilt," his
TAGNY church officials were aware lawyer Frederic Doyer told
Associated Press of his misconduct dating reporters outside the court-
LYON, France (AP) — A back to the 1960s, but he house.
French priest who acknowl- wasn't removed from the During the trial, Preynat
edged sexually abusing at priesthood until last year. said he became interested
least 75 boys over decades Victims of Preynat's abuse, in young boys when he was
was sentenced Monday primarily boy scouts, wel- 14 or 15, and he discussed it
to five years in prison, in comed his conviction for with his bishop of the time,
France's worst case of cler- sexually abusing minors. but was still later ordained
gy abuse to reach trial. Preynat was a scout leader. as a priest.
The court in Lyon issued the "It's really a relief," said Preynat testified that while
verdict against 74-year-old Pierre Emmanuel Germain- working as their scout
Bernard Preynat behind Thill, who testified that Prey- chaplain, he abused up
closed doors because of nat's abuse upturned his to two boys "almost every
the spreading coronavirus life. "Since he's someone Former French priest Bernard Preynat, center, arrives at the Lyon weekend" from 1970 to
that has shuttered most ac- of a certain age, it seems court house, central France, Monday Jan.13, 2020. 1990 and as many as four
tivity in France. like a correct verdict to me. Associated Press or five a week when he led
Preynat's case forced the The victims want to turn the one-week scout camps. He
first serious reckoning with page." for at least eight years. It Preynat was present for the said that successive Lyon
sex abuse within the Cath- Preynat could have faced wasn't immediately clear verdict, but didn't speak to cardinals told him to stop,
olic Church in France. Prey- up to 10 years in prison, and whether either side would any victims. but didn't report him to
nat testified that multiple the prosecution had asked appeal. "He reacted as a man who police.q