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WORLD NEWS Monday 12 october 2020
England to have 3-tier lockdown system amid 'tipping point'

By PAN PYLAS mented by local actions,
Associated Press including in some cases
LONDON (AP) — Millions of banning contacts between
people in northern England households. In Scotland's
are anxiously waiting to two biggest cities, Glasgow
hear how much further virus and Edinburgh, pubs have
restrictions will be tightened already closed for 16 days
in coming days as the Brit- to suppress the outbreak.
ish government confirmed Liverpool's local leader has
Sunday that it will be intro- said he expects his city to
ducing a new system for lo- face the most onerous re-
cal lockdowns. strictions from Wednesday.
In response to the virus' re- Local leaders across north-
surgence, Prime Minister ern England have vented
Boris Johnson is expected their fury at the Conserva-
to announce in Parliament tive government over what
on Monday a three-tier lo- they see as an "inadequate"
cal lockdown system, for- wage support scheme
mally known as "Local CO- that it announced Friday
VID Alert Levels," for Eng- and for not properly telling
land, his office said. them about the upcoming
Under the new system, the restrictions. The wage plan
country will be placed into aims to help employees in
"medium," "high" and "very People are out socializing in Liverpool city centre, ahead of the 10 p.m. curfew that pubs and companies that are forced
high" alert levels. Johnson's restaurants are subject to in order to combat the rise in coronavirus cases in England, Saturday, to close because of virus
Oct. 10, 2020.
office said the government Associated Press restrictions, but mayors say
is working with local leaders it's not generous enough
to decide which areas are anticipated for a couple the U.K., there have been cial death toll of 42,825, up in paying only two-thirds
covered by the very high of weeks following a sharp huge increases in corona- another 65 on Sunday. of employees' wages and
alert level, and the appro- increase in new cases. Fol- virus cases over the past Although coronavirus infec- doesn't compensate those
priate interventions in those lowing further discussions few weeks following the tions are rising throughout indirectly hit by any busi-
areas. early Monday, Johnson will reopening of large sectors England, northern cities like ness closures, such as drink
Details of what is involved inform lawmakers of the of the economy, as well as Liverpool, Manchester and suppliers to pubs.
at each level haven't been new system before hosting schools and universities. In- Newcastle have seen a Communities Secretary
confirmed but the highest a briefing along with Trea- fection levels — and deaths disproportionate increase. Robert Jenrick on Sunday
level is widely expected to sury chief Rishi Sunak and — in the U.K. are rising at While some rural areas in sought to assuage con-

involve the closure of pubs the government's chief their fastest rates in months. eastern England have less cerns that the government
and restaurants and the medical officer, Chris Whit- Without quick action, there than 20 cases per 100,000 was being overly hierarchi-
banning of household mix- ty. "But we can prevent his- are fears that U.K. hospitals people, some major metro- cal in its approach. He also
ing, both indoors and out- tory repeating itself if we all will be overwhelmed in the politan areas have recently indicated that local au-
side, among other mea- act now," he said . "Now we coming weeks at a time recorded levels above 500 thorities will be given more
sures. know where it is and how of year when they are al- per 100,000, nearly as bad control over the national
The new lockdown system, to tackle it — let's grasp this ready at their busiest with as Madrid or Brussels. test and trace program,
which is intended to sim- opportunity and prevent winter-related afflictions As a result, national restric- which has struggled to live
plify the process by which history from repeating it- like the flu. The U.K. has ex- tions such as a 10 p.m. cur- up to Johnson's prediction
local restrictions are im- self." perienced Europe's deadli- few on pubs and restau- that it would be "world-
posed, has been widely All across Europe including est outbreak, with an offi- rants have been supple- beating." q

Detained Canadians in China get rare consular access

By ROB GILLIES thorities of these two Cana- extradition on fraud charg-
Associated Press dians since December 2018 es and her extradition case
TORONTO (AP) — The Ca- and continues to call for is before the Canadian
nadian government said their immediate release," courts. Her arrest severely
Saturday that China grant- the government said in a damaged relations be-
ed consular access to two statement. tween China and Canada.
detained Canadians in Canada continues to press Neither Kovrig, a former
China for the first time since Beijing to release Kovrig diplomat, nor Spavor, an
January. and Spavor, both detained entrepreneur, were permit-
The Global Affairs depart- since December 2018 fol- ted visits from consular of-
ment said Dominic Barton, lowing Canada's arrest of ficials amid the coronavirus
Canada's Ambassador to Meng Wanzhou, a Chinese pandemic.
China, was granted virtual Huawei official and the Prime Minister Justin
consular access to Michael daughter of the company's Trudeau spoke to U.S. Presi-
Spavor on Friday and virtual founder. Canadian police dent Donald Trump about
consular access to Michael detained Meng in Vancou- the two Canadians in a
Kovrig on Saturday. ver on a U.S. extradition phone call on Saturday
"The Canadian govern- request nine days before and thanked the president
ment remains deeply con- Kovrig and Spavor were ar- for the ongoing support Meng Wanzhou leaves B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver, British
cerned by the arbitrary rested. of the U.S. in seeking their Columbia, Monday, Sept. 28, 2020.
detention by Chinese au- The U.S. is seeking Meng's release.q Associated Press