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 UK's Christmas plans 'will cost many lives'
Two of Britain's most influential journals for healthcare and
medical professionals jointly called on the government to scrap
plans to relax restrictions for five days around Christmas or risk
overwhelming the health service.
The British Medical Journal and the Health Service Journal said the
government should be tightening the rules rather than allowing three
households to mix over five days.
British scientists are also trying to establish whether the rapid
spread in southern England of a new variant of the virus that causes
COVID-19 is linked to key mutations they have detected in the
strain.
Christmas crowds in Italy raise alarm
Italy is considering more stringent nationwide restrictions during
the Christmas holidays after scenes of big gatherings in many cities
over the weekend raised worries.
Italy has passed Britain as the European nation with the worst
official death toll, with more than 65,000 dying since the start of
the outbreak in February.
With pressure on hospitals easing and daily cases falling, the
government relaxed some restrictions put in place last month. But
scenes of crowded shopping districts in cities such as Milan and
Rome have caused concern.
First Americans vaccinated
A New York City intensive care unit nurse became the first person in
the United States to receive a coronavirus vaccine, saying she felt
"healing is coming" as the nation's COVID-19 death toll crossed
300,000.
Sandra Lindsay, who has treated some of the sickest COVID-19
patients for months, was inoculated at Long Island Jewish Medical
Center in the New York City borough of Queens, an early epicenter of
the country's coronavirus outbreak.
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 "It didn't feel any different
from taking any other vaccine," Lindsay said. "I
feel hopeful today, relieved.”
Netherlands closing down
The Netherlands will go into a tough second
lockdown, with the closure of all schools and
shops for at least five weeks, Prime Minister
Mark Rutte said. "The
Netherlands is closing down," he said to the sound of protesters
banging pots and pans outside his office in The Hague. "We realise
the gravity of our decisions, right before Christmas."
The measures include limiting gatherings to no more than two people,
also at home. An exception will be made for three days around
Christmas, when three adult visitors will be permitted.
Singapore to open travel bubble
Singapore is to allow a limited number of business, official and
other "high economic value" travellers from abroad under a "bubble"
arrangement that offers a glimpse into what visitors for this year's
relocated Davos conference might expect.
The annual World Economic Forum will make its debut in Asia in May
after being moved from its usual home in the Swiss ski resort of
Davos over coronavirus safety concerns.
Singapore's borders have been effectively shut for months, and it
faces challenges hosting an event that usually attracts thousands
just five months from now.
(Compiled by Linda Noakes; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
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