VOA常速英语:英国成为第5个死亡人数超过5万的国家

This is VOA news. Reporting by remote, I'm David Byrd.

As the number of coronavirus infections and deaths continues to rise in the United States, several states are taking action to prevent infections. We get more from AP's Ed Donahue. In New York, restaurants, bars and gyms will have to close by 10 p.m. No private gatherings of more than ten people. In Indiana, "We are in the midst of a second surge." Governor Eric Holcomb is bringing back some restrictions that limit crowd size and he extends a mask mandate. "Unfortunately too many of us and around the country have let our guards down, and either assumed we won't get it or if we do, so be it.” In Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Mayor Paul TenHaken said no to a mask mandate. "I believe the small uptick in compliance we'll see, we see from this, we will see, are not worth the community division that this will create.” Violators would have been fined $50. I'm Ed Donahue.

Britain has become the fifth country worldwide to record more than 50,000 deaths from COVID-19. The British government reported more than 50,300 people have died from the disease. That means Britain joins the United States, Brazil, India and Mexico in reporting more than 50,000 deaths. The news follows reports earlier this week that a vaccine had performed well in clinical trials. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said even with the hope of a vaccine, people still need to follow safety protocols. "... we're not out of the woods yet. It does still require everybody to follow the guidance, do the right thing, to suppress the disease in a way that we all understand.” Britain is currently experiencing a resurgence of the virus and has imposed new restrictions to help curb infections. Non-essential places, such as pubs, restaurants, hairdressers, gyms, golf courses and theaters, must remain closed until December 2.

For more on these stories, visit VOAnews.com. This is VOA news.