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England to End CCP Virus Lockdown on Dec. 2

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Pair Sentenced for Nebraska Pharmacy Fire Bomb Plot

ALEXANDRIA鈥擜 Nebraska pharmacist was sentenced Friday to nine years in prison and a Maryland drug dealer to 14 years for a convoluted plot to firebomb a competing pharmacy so they could divert more prescription narcotics to the black market. William Burgamy, 33, of Hanover, Maryland, and Hyrum Wilson, 41 of Auburn, Nebraska, each pleaded guilty to their respective roles in the conspiracy earlier this year in federal court in Virginia. Federal agents arrested Burgamy in April and charged him with running a website on the internet black market called NeverPressedRx that sold hundreds of thousands dollars’ worth of illicit drugs. After his arrest, authorities discovered the firebomb plot to destroy the rival pharmacy so Wilson’s operation, Hyrum鈥檚 Family Value Pharmacy, could increase its business. The pair figured the increased volume…

England to End CCP Virus Lockdown on Dec. 2

The British government plans to end the CCP virus lockdown in England on Dec. 2 but will implement tougher tiered regional restrictions, Prime Minister Boris Johnson鈥檚 office said.

The government placed England in a second national lockdown on Nov. 2 in an attempt to stem the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which caused the COVID-19 pandemic.

The month-long lockdown will be lifted as scheduled on Dec. 2, and the government plans to return to using the three-tiered system of localised restrictions, a spokeswoman for 10 Downing Street said on Saturday evening.

England to End CCP Virus Lockdown on Dec. 2 File photo shows people walking during the morning rush hour in the Canary Wharf amid the outbreak of the CCP virus in London, on Oct. 15, 2020. (Hannah McKay/Reuters)

“The Prime Minister and his scientific advisors are clear the virus is still present鈥攁nd without regional restrictions it could quickly run out of control again before vaccines and mass testing have had an effect,” said the spokeswoman.

“That would put in jeopardy the progress the country has made, and once again risk intolerable pressure on the NHS (National Health Service).”

The prime minister is scheduled to hold discussions with the cabinet on Sunday and present the new COVID Winter Plan to Parliament on Monday, the spokeswoman said.

Prior to the latest lockdown, a three-tiered system of restrictions had been put in place in England. The three tiers are medium, high, and very high, categorised by the infection rates of the areas.

The toughest measures were imposed in northern England, where movement was limited and pubs were forced to close unless they sold substantial meals.

After the lockdown is lifted on Dec. 2, more areas are expected to be placed into the higher restriction tiers. Ministers will announce which areas will be placed into which tier on Thursday, with lawmakers able to vote on the system before it comes into force. The tiers will be reviewed.

Johnson鈥檚 office also confirmed plans to begin a nationwide COVID-19 vaccination programme next month, assuming regulators approve a vaccine against the virus. The government will also increase mass testing in an effort to suppress the virus until vaccines can be rolled out.

During the lockdown, all “non-essential” shops and hospitality were told to close for a month, though schools, colleges, and universities have remained open.

UK businesses have been hit hard by the lockdown measures. One in seven businesses and one in three hospitality businesses in the UK have no or low confidence that they will survive the next three months, according to the latest data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Thursday.

Lily Zhou, Reuters, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Focus News: England to End CCP Virus Lockdown on Dec. 2

Irvine-Based Taco Bell Foundation Awarding $7.5 Million in Annual Scholarships

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