#9: Debate Over UK’s New COVID-19 Curfews

Hello my beautiful students and welcome back to English News Pod, the best way for you to learn practical English through the news. I’m your host and teacher, Caroline. 

Now, let’s take a look at today’s top news. You can find a full transcript of this podcast episode in the description. 

The British government introduced new COVID-19 restrictions last week in response to a rising number of coronavirus cases in the United Kingdom. One restriction is being hotly debated - a 10pm pub curfew. Some officials argue it is an effective way to stop the spread  of the virus, as the early closure of bars will encourage people to go home. However, other officials argue the curfew is actually making things worse, because at 10pm pub-goers crowd into the streets, go to local stores to buy alcohol, and have large late-night house parties. What do you think is the best way to lower the number of rising coronavirus cases in your country?

Let’s take a look at some grammar:

1. Restrictions - restrictions are conditions that limit your activity. In this case we are talking about restrictions that limit how late bars can stay open in the UK.
2. Cases of coronavirus - the word case means a specific instance, or a specific situation. For example, when one person gets coronavirus, that is considered a new case of coronavirus.    
3. “Hotly debated” -  the phrase “hotly debated” means that the debate is heated, or that it is intense. In our case, the ‘hot debate’ is if the new COVID19 restrictions are working. 
4. Pub-goers - whenever you add “goers” to a word, it means the people who go to a place often. So, pub-goers means people who go to the pub a lot. You may also hear the word “party-goers,” or people who go to parties often. 
5. Crowd - a crowd is a large group of people.

Bonus

Do you  know the difference between the words “pub” and “bar”? In the US, we mostly say “bar” to describe a place that sells only alcohol, but in the UK, they use the word “pub.” Same meaning, different countries! 

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