COVID outbreak:UK begins fresh lockdown

The British police released new guidance on Wednesday ahead of the month-long lockdown taking effect in England from early Thursday. “We are ready and prepared to take enforcement action against those who are deliberately breaching rules and putting people at risk,” said Scotland Yard deputy assistant commissioner Matt Twist. The police said it will continue to use the ‘4 Es’ approach of engaging, explaining the regulations, encouraging people to following them and only enforcing as a last resort while dealing with restrictions under Lockdown 2. Fines can go up to over 6,000 pounds for breaches.

The House of Commons was due to vote later on Wednesday to approve Lockdown 2, as health officials reported a major rise in the number or Covid-19 patients in hospitals: from less than 500 in September to nearly 11,000 now. Late-stage trial results of a potential Covid-19 vaccine being developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca could be presented this year as the British government prepares for a possible vaccination roll-out in late December or early 2021.