Coronavirus News Update – Dec. 23: England Tightens Restrictions, Trump Demands Changes to Relief Bill
The Church of Saint Mary at Sudeley Castle in the Cotswolds, built in 1070, restored in 1855
The U.K. government placed more of England under the new Level 4 restrictions early Wednesday as health officials emphasized the dangers of how quickly the newly discovered mutation of the coronavirus was spreading.“The new variant makes everything so much harder because it spreads so much faster,” said Matt Hancock, the British health secretary, at a news conference.
The closure of the French border resulted in a massive logjam of trucks bound for the Continent that were stuck in southeast England. A similar logjam occurred on the other side of the border. France reopened its ports after a 48-hour shutdown but the backlog will take days to clear because drivers must produce a negative coronavirus test before they will be permitted to cross the English Channel.
In the United States, President Donald Trump threatened to veto the $900 billion pandemic relief bill, calling it a disgrace and demanding that each American get a $2,000 stimulus check. The bill is, however, veto-proof. It was passed in the House of Representatives by a 359 to 53 vote and in the Senate by a 92 to 6. Democrats responded with an enthusiastic endorsement of the increase to the stimulus check.
An underground bar in the Rosedale neighborhood of New York City was shut down Sunday after violating state ordinances on social gatherings and and public safety protocols. Sheriff’s deputies found over 160 people packed into the so-called “bottle club,” which was accessed via a back alley, and reported that it was overcrowded and no one was wearing face coverings. Five people were charged with multiple offenses including fire and health code violations. The establishment did not have a liquor license.
Finally, the passenger who died on a United Airlines flight last week did have the coronavirus, a coroner’s report found. The man boarded a flight from Orlando to Los Angeles knowing he had multiple symptoms of the virus. The EMT who treated him during the flight later reported having symptoms as well.
(Photo: Accura Media Group)
