Page 29 - bon-dia-aruba-20220103

A29
world news Dialuna 3 Januari 2022

UK makes Omicron contingency plans for hospitals, schools

(AP) — The U.K. gov- was preparing for “every
ernment has been mak- eventuality”.
ing contingency plans in
case hospitals, schools “It’s important that those
and other workplaces are contingency plans are re-
hit by major staff short- freshed and that we take
ages amid the country’s measures to mitigate those
record-breaking spike in impacts,” Barclay said.
coronavirus infections.
Ministers have cited in-
Public sector workplaces creased support for more vi-
have been preparing for staff rus testing, better ventilation
absences ranging from 10% in schools and workplaces,
to 25% as COVID-19 sickens and drafting former teachers
more people or forces them or even volunteers to prevent
to isolate, the Cabinet Office absences from having a seri-
said. ous impact on schools.

The highly transmissible Devolved authorities in
omicron variant has caused Scotland, Wales and North-
Britain’s daily new caseload ern Ireland have imposed
to soar over Christmas and limits on events and social
the New Year, with a new gatherings in the face of the
daily high of 189,000 on Dec. fast-spreading omicron. But ers say absences have already attempt to “minimise disrup- patients requiring hospital
31. A further 137,583 infec- Health Secretary Sajid Javid added to the heavy pres- tion” and prevent teachers treatment across Britain has
tions and 73 deaths were says adding new restrictions sures on U.K. hospitals, even and pupils from being forced increased much more slow-
added for England and Wales is a “last resort” for England, though the overall number of to stay at home. ly than new infections, but
only on Sunday, with num- despite the climbing daily in- people being treated for CO- in the last week reached its
bers for Scotland and North- fection rate. Barclay backed VID-19 remains much lower The U.K. Health Security highest level since February
ern Ireland to be announced this strategy again Sunday, than last winter. NHS Pro- Agency has maintained its 2021.
after the holiday weekend. arguing the reintroduction viders chief executive Chris support for the seven-day iso-
of light restrictions in De- Hopson said staff have been lation period for those who The government’s push to
About 1 in 25 people in Eng- cember as omicron began to working “flat out” and the have contracted the virus and deliver COVID-19 boosters
land — or about 2 million take hold had brought about early days of 2022 would be are fully vaccinated. But Paul has now seen over 50% of
people — had COVID-19 in a “significant behaviour “crucial” in showing whether Hunter, a professor of health the population receive a third
the week before Christmas, change” with people reduc- further measures are needed. protection at the University dose.
the Office of National Sta- ing their social contacts. of East Anglia, told ITV that
tistics estimated. In London, Secondary school students in the requirement should be Overall, the U.K. has re-
the figure was 1 in 15. The public had been advised England will be required to reduced to five days as stud- ported more than 13.1 mil-
to test themselves ahead of wear face masks when they ies had shown people were lion infections and more than
Cabinet Office Minister Ste- joining any New Year’s cel- return to classes after the “very unlikely” to be infec- 149,000 deaths linked to CO-
phen Barclay said there had ebrations. Christmas holidays. Educa- tious after this point. VID-19, the second highest
already been “significant” ab- tion Secretary Nadhim Za- death toll in Europe behind
sences and the government National Health Service lead- hawi said the move was an The number of COVID-19 Russia.

Tutu remains interred amid call to rename Cape Town airport

(AP) — The remains of laid a small box containing should be renamed Arch- lived, exemplified by his pine The box with Tutu’s remains
Desmond Tutu, the Nobel Tutu’s remains to rest in the bishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu coffin with rope handles,” were placed under a memo-
Peace Prize-winning An- floor in front of the high altar International Airport. Makgoba said in his homily. rial stone inscribed with the
glican archbishop emeri- at St George’s Cathedral. Tu- “Let those of us who have words: Desmond Mpilo
tus of Cape Town, were tu’s widow, children and oth- He called on all South Afri- resources pull in our belts, Tutu, Oct. 1931 – Dec. 2021,
interred early Sunday er family members attended cans to “turn a new page” and that others can eat enough Archbishop of Cape Town
during a private family the 30-minute service. commit to “the radical, revo- to fill their stomachs. Let us 1986 - 1996.
service at the city’s Angli- lutionary change” that Tutu reorder our society to end in-
can cathedral. Makgoba suggested that to advocated. equality and create equal op- The morning service was
honor the late Nobel lau- portunities for all.” underway as a fire swept
Archbishop Thabo Makgoba reate, Cape Town’s airport “Let us live as simply as he through South Africa’s near-
by Parliament building. A
pall of smoke later hung over
the cathedral and the sur-
rounding area.

A requiem Mass was held in
the cathedral for Tutu’s fu-
neral on Saturday. Church
officials said Tutu’s body
was prepared for interment
with water in a process called
aquamation.

Tutu requested the method
because it uses less energy
and is more environmentally
friendly, church officials told
journalists.