The Times - UK (2020-10-15)

(Antfer) #1

London is on the brink of a local lock-


down that would bring another nine


million people under tough restrictions


on socialising and travelling.


Sadiq Khan, the mayor, briefed the


capital’s health chiefs about the move


into the “high” Tier 2 coronavirus


category after a meeting of the Joint


Biosecurity Centre yesterday and an


announcement could come as soon as


tomorrow.


The meeting, chaired by Matt


Hancock, the health secretary, and


Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer


for England, also recommended


that most of the northwest and north-


east and large parts of Yorkshire and


the Midlands be placed in the “very
high” Tier 3.
Boris Johnson is working on plans to
adopt a version of a “circuit-breaker”
full lockdown timed to coincide with
English schools’ half-term, which for
most begins on October 26.
Under one potential compromise
urban areas with higher Covid-19 rates,
not necessarily only those in Tier 3,
would be subject to a limited period of
additional measures.
That would enable the prime minis-
ter to persist with his regional approach
and avoid handing a victory to Sir Keir
Starmer, the Labour leader, who is
backing a national lockdown.
In other developments:
6 President Macron imposed a 9pm to

6am curfew in Paris and eight other
French cities, covering 20 million
people.
6 Some 137 more Covid-19 deaths and
19,724 new infections were reported in
Britain. Another 680 patients were
admitted to hospital with the virus,
bringing the total over the past seven
days to 4,576.
6 The Welsh government announced
its intention to introduce border curbs
that would block arrivals from areas of
Britain with high infection rates.
6 Graham Medley, a government
scientific adviser, warned that minis-
ters had already left it too late for a
circuit-breaker lockdown to be fully
effective.
6 Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office

minister, and Mr Hancock are among
those in the cabinet urging the prime
minister to consider a full lockdown
starting the weekend after next.
Dominic Cummings, Mr Johnson’s
most senior adviser, is also understood
to be among those pushing to take
advantage of half-term to control the
spread of the virus.
However, Rishi Sunak, the chancel-
lor, has said that “everything possible”
should be done to avoid the national
lockdown amid warnings that even a
fortnight’s closure would tip companies
into liquidation.
Mixing with other households
indoors in the capital will be banned
and commuters urged to keep off public
transport if the move into Tier 2 is

confirmed tomorrow. Downing Street
declined to comment but sources close
to Mr Khan said that Londoners should
be aware that a change in restrictions is
“increasingly likely and in very short
order”. Areas have previously been
given two days’ notice before having
new restrictions applied.
London’s population of almost nine
million would join 17 million others
under additional restrictions. Mr Khan
is understood to have told colleagues
that the virus is spreading in every part
of the city and will soon reach an
average of 100 cases per 100,
people.
“Discussions between city leaders
and ministers are still ongoing but
Continued on page 2, col 3

Francis Elliott Political Editor


It’s a dog’s life:


people share


canine traits


Rhys Blakely Science Correspondent


The personalities of dogs and their
owners evolve in similar ways, research
suggests. The study shows how a dog’s
character changes over time, with dif-
ferent traits appearing to follow distinct
trajectories. Similar patterns have been
observed in people.
A dog’s interest in solving problems,
for instance, appears to rise until they
reach middle age, about six years old for
a border collie. It then hits a plateau.
Their curiosity peaks at about the age
of three and then begins a steady de-
cline. Sociability, measured by their re-
action to a friendly stranger, remains
constant throughout their lives.
Lisa Wallis of Liverpool University, a
co-author of the study, hopes the find-
ing will help owners to set expectations
of behaviour at different ages. Owners
of hyperactive, super-inquisitive pup-
pies can be reassured that their pet will
calm down. It says working dogs are at
their peak between about three and six
years old, when they can best focus.
The researchers investigated the per-
sonalities of 217 border collies, aged six
months to 15 years, using a method
known as the Vienna Dog Personality
Test. It measures five aspects: friendli-
ness with strangers; willingness to
explore a new environment; how easily
they are distracted by novelty;
problem-solving; and how they react
when frustrated, measured by placing
food just out of their reach.
There were some big changes in pup-
pyhood: after about the age of two —
roughly equivalent to a human in their
early twenties — curiosity about new
surroundings fell sharply, for example.

Students could submit coursework


anonymously and attend seminars


without being identified under


guidance issued today to tackle foreign


interference in British universities.


The groundbreaking plan, shared


with The Times, was drawn up by vice-


chancellors and officials in response to


threats to freedom of speech and fears


about intellectual property theft.


It does not name countries posing a


risk but Ken McCallum, the director-


general of MI5, warned yesterday that


China was the greatest long-term threat


to British interests while Russia caused


the “most aggravation” at present.


The guidance from Universities UK,


the first of its kind, warns that extra-


territorial jurisdiction has a “potent-


ially chilling” effect on campuses.


China’s national security law makes it


an offence to make subversive state-


ments about the Communist Party,


regardless of citizenship or location.


Online teaching causes greater risk,


it suggests, because seminars could be


secretly recorded and students and


academics targeted for their views.


“Academics and students may feel


less able to participate in debate or


progress research on certain topics that


may be deemed sensitive by, and


potentially subject to legal restrictions


in, another nation state,” it says.


Universities could introduce


Continued on page 4, col 1


Universities


plan secret


seminars to


tackle spies


Nicola Woolcock


Education Correspondent


Charlie Parker, Fiona Hamilton


Start of a new chapter Bill Bryson, the writer best known for his witty travel and science books, has retired at the age of 68.
He told Times Radio that he was looking forward to reading and spending time with his “masses” of grandchildren. Page 5

FRANCESCO GUIDICINI

Thursday October 15 2020 | thetimes.co.uk | No 73291 2G £2 £1.10 to subscribers


Millions facing new lockdown

6 London braced for tougher Covid rules 6 Socialising and travel restricted 6 Ministers believe national shutdown looms


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