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New COVID-19 Lockdowns in Britain; New Variant Found in New York

VOA News

   Britain's prime minister announced a fresh round of lockdowns Monday,
   closing schools and nonessential shops, as the country begins
   vaccinating health care workers and the elderly.

   Prime Minister Boris Johnson said people must stay at home until at
   least mid-February, noting that British hospitals are under more strain
   now than they have been at any point during the pandemic.

   "If the rollout of the vaccine program continues to be successful. If
   deaths start to fall as the vaccine takes effect. And critically, if
   everyone plays their part by following the rules, then I hope we can
   steadily move out of lockdown," Johnson said in a televised address
   Monday.

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