Life well planned. The eeman foundation. By judy and Peter Blum Kovler foundation; pursuing solutions for americas neglected needs. And by contributions to this pbs station from viewers like you. Thank you. In new york city. I am Laura Trevelyan in new york city. This is bbc world news america. Covid hospitalizations are reaching a new high. [chanting] anchor prodemocracy lawmakers resign in protest after four members resign in china after being unpatriotic. Plus, meeting santa in the age of social distancing. How st. Nick and his helpers are making sure that christmas does not get canceled. Laura welcome to bbc world news america. Until them vaccine hits the market, we face with a u. S. President elect because a dark winter, trying to contain the virus. The red dots on this map show more than 50 million cases of coronavirus recorded worldwide. Here and the u. S. , more than 10 million americans have been infected. In a troubling record, more than 60,000 people are in the hospital fighting the virus in u. S. Doctors are warning the icus are close to being overrun. We are seeing a rise in cases as the cold weather drives and indoor. The difference in case numbers, those red dot, that is striking. This doctor is a cardiologist in montreal and joins us now. Why is it that canada is doing so much better then the United States in fighting the coronavirus . I think that there is a couple of reasons to explain the difference. Early on in the pandemic, the fda unfortunately approved a number of tests that turned out to be somewhat and accurate. That created a lot of confusion and prevented the u. S. From getting the situation under control at the beginning. In canada while there were still problems with testing and getting Contact Tracing done, we avoided a lot of the early confusion that the u. S. Had. At least here in canada, there was not the same political fights tha we saw south of the border. In canada, there was no disagreements between the federal provinci governments, no major disagreements. Despite weather various political leaders were liberal or conservative, there were largely playing by the same playbook. There were listening to Public Health agencies and everything that was being done was being dictated by the science ofhe Public Health agencies. This is clearly not what was happening in the u. S. , where states were bidding against each other. State governments. I think at the very least here, there was a lot less confusion, and it allowed us to actua handle the pandemic as best we could, without having to engage in a political fight as we as a scientific Public Health fight. Laura one quarter of the population here in the u. S. Has eexisting condition. Could that also be why it hit us harder . I think that is part of it. Especially in europe, where you have demographics with younger populations, they tend to do better. The population in canada and u. S. Is roughly similar. I dont think it ishose characteristics that drove the characteristics. I think itas the response to the virus. In canada, it was fairly uniform and evidence driven. The u. S. , as a number of people have pointed out, problems in terms of rolling out the testing, and an overall strategy for the pandemic. It was largely lacking, to the situation that you had different states acting differently. That created confusion. When you have confusion, people do not know to do. It is hard to get people to do all of the things that are necessary, wear our mask, auster hands, keep your distance. If they are hearing Different Things from different people, especially highlevel governme officials. Laura how do you think the winter will go there in canada . Cases are rising a bit. Are you worried . I am. Which cases nearzero in some places. This is how most viruses behave. They come back and the winter. We are going to have to be extra vigilant. We are having discussions about however sect of our lockdown measures are going to be. Do we want to replicate what was in austria and new zealand and what is being done in europe now . A more extensive lockdown. The more that we can lockdown now, the less new cases that we can have. It is a question of how restrictive we want to be, in an effort to driveown the case numbers. If we start to see case numbers glow, i think that we are going to have to do that. Here in canada, i think the good thing is, is that when it becomes necessary to lockdown, we are going to have to walk stuff down, and deal with the Economic Impact as it comes. Laura unlike here in the United States. Thank you so much for joining us, doctor. Turning to india now, doctors in the capital delhi fear that a medical emergency is coming as covid cases rise. They enter festival season with millions of marking the hindu celebration. Social distancing has been wax. India already has the secondhighest number of covid cases in the world. Reporter the big fat indian wedding has been slimmed down. Numbers can run into the thousands, but in times of covid, rules in delhi only allow up to 200 guests. As peak marriage season begins, cases are rising. The countrys wealthy are still finding ways to celebrate. All of the guests that have been invited here, all of our staff and the people working, they have all had the covid test done. They have tested negative, so they are hugging each other and they can enjoy their small intimate wedding. Reporter the scenes are far from intimate, as millions prepare to celebrate the hindu festival. Shoppers have be at the deli markets. The fabric of this nation is built on social connections. There was no appetite for a second lockdown. It is very cloudy outside. We are unsure if we should go or not. It is a festival. Reporter with cases rising, do yo think that there should be a lockdown . The number of cases is increasing, and people are tired of all this. They want to get out of the home. This is the time when we can step out. Reporter they shoppers are not stepping out like they usually do. Traders told me that they are struggling. Some have been made she has been making puppets all her life. Never before has a generation has to deal with coronavirus. For us poor people, there is no diwali. We have gone bankrupt. We cannot afford food or clothes. Reporter there is no safety net for millions of this nations poor. Far, the government has resisted a Second National lockdown. The balance of protecting people from hardship and protecting their health comes at a price. Covid cases are rising at record levels in delhi. Illnesses are fueling the demand. Doctors told bbc that indias capitals headed toward an emergency. I am extremely worried right now. It is a horrible time. I see yous icus are full. If the numbers increase substantially, i worry to think what wil happen and how we will manage those cases. Laura reporter around the corner, there are prayers that the worst is yet to come. The doctohas warned that if indians do not remain vigilant this festival season, festivals could be shortened. Bbc news, delhi. Laura india battles covid during diwali. All lawmakers have resigned from the governing council and purchase of a new chinese law. For members of hong kongs Mini Parliament were disqualified under the legislation. The new powers recalled a further assault on hong kongs autonomy. Here is our beijing china correspondent. Reporter it was a slow walk out of parament. At ts site of how swift china has moved to quell hong kongs prodemocracy. Politicians, in favor of u. S. Sanctions on hong kong, disqualified in minutes of the announcement on beijing. Last years mass protest, few would buy fears the trident was undermining hong kongs freedoms, have been stopped by a sweeping International Security law. Few wouldve imagined that parliamentary would be targeted as well. New powers handed to beijing party leader. From now on, every lawmaker must support the basic law of hong kong, and be loyal to the people republic. In order to build a political system dominated. Reporter in protest, the remaining prodemocracy lawmakers announced that they were all resigning. This left hong kong leaders without any effective opposition at all. This act of resignation is not just in protest against beijings rule by decree, it no longer a rule of law. It is a rule by decree. Reporter hong kongs fractious parliament was not always a model of democracy, and it was one of the descent. Now it is gone, too. John, bbc news, ijing. Laura joining us now for more of what this means is the u. S. Correspondent for our bbc chinese service. Why did beijing introduce this draconian new law at this point . Correspondent what we saw happened today was actually a continuation of what happened in the summer, when beijing imposed the new National Security law in hong kong. This new law basically criminalized any act of subversions, successions, and laid the foundation what is happening right now, as we just heard from our correspondent in china. For lawmakers in the Hong Kong Legislature were disqualified. Many are worri that all of this opposition voices disappearing at hong kong. Laura does it bother beijing that Britain Foreign secretary says that this is a further assault on democracy in hong kong . Correspondent the chinese and hong kong authorities have been under National Pressure in recent months, given what has happened in hong kong. It does not seem like beijing is worried about this. Beijing did take a very curious timing to push this move, when america is distracted by the covid19 pandemic also the president ial election. Today we have not heard from the u. S. State department the biden team regarding hong kong. However, i think this beijing move sends a very strong signal to the president elect joe biden that this is no longer 2016. He is going to deal with the very different china. Laura now that those independent lawmakers have resigned in hong kong, what is next for their calls . Their cuase . Correspondent it is a very difficult position for them. Hong kongs election has been delayed till next year. After all of this mess, it is very tough for any Opposition Party to make a voice in the lawmaking process and hong kong. But they are doing right now is what is called international lobbying. For example, hong kong in the u. S. And in the u. K. Talking to policymakers, lawmakers, to try to push the agenda forward and try to raise awareness of what is happening in hong kong. Of course, this is very tricky. China has accused all of these prodemocracy activists for colluding with Foreign Forces like the u. S. And u. K. We have to wait and see how this will play out. Laura thank you very much for that analysis. Commemorations have been taking place around the world to mark the 100 and second 102nd armistice day. The french president led in paris. There been sober since of limited due to coronavirus. The usual military parade was canceled. Ceremonies mercy to just 10 people. President trump marked veterans day as it is celebrated here, by laying a wreath at the unknown soldier to. It was his first appearance before after joe biden was elected president. He has refused to concede, as a president elect joe biden has described as an embarrassment. For more on this bassar state on this this bizarre state, i am joined now, is there any signout that the president is about to concede . No, not at the moment. We are at a bit of an impasse. Many people have never heard of this. Refusing to recognize the transition at all. They are responsible for 6 million as well as giving access to other federal agencies in t transition. Their refusal to acknowledge this change of guard, as it were, means that the biden or incoming team do not have access to briefings, National Security information, classified information, and that can have serious implications. Team biden said they may consider legal action in the coming days, if nothing happens, and if they are not given access to these funds and access to other federal agencies, even things as simple as office space are connected to this one federal agency. Laura the president is claiming that the election was stolen from him. There was widespread electoral fraud, he says. Has his team produced any evidence of this . Have they even won a single court case in any of the states that they are suing . No. There has been no evidence presented to any judge in any court of the country that has upheld this claim of widespread electoral fraud. I think that what the republicans are hoping to do, perhaps, is i suppose undermine the confidence in the election, and i guess, in terms of Donald Trumps base, keep them fired up. We have a runoff in georgia coming up in january, if you are not fed up with the elections altogether. There is still more to come. Maybe they are thiing, we can keep the base fired up, and that might help us in the fe. Laura thank you so much for joining us with that analysis there. You are watching bbc, world news america. Still to come on tonights program. Bbc has discovered that livein Domestic Workers in spain have been permitted from leaving their employers houses ring the pandemic. A bomb blast in saudi arabia has struck a Remembrance Day ceremonyttended by western diplomats, injuring several people. Heres our security correspondent. Correspondent photographs of bloodstains on the pavement. The foreign embassies have called upon the soviet authorities to conduct an investigation. This comes 12 daysfter an attack outside the french consulate in jeddah. A Security Guard was attacked and stabbed. Jeddah is not the capital, but the difference in the two is that jeddah is erotically open seaport with scattered locations. And we ought in the capital, it is much more secure and far harder to carry out an attack there. That probably explains why both of these attacks have explained that have taken place in the port city rather than the capital. Laura the bbc has discovered that some Domestic Workers in spain have been locked inside their employees home is the start of the pandemic. They had not been allowed outside for mont. More than 20,000 domestic staff have lost their jobs in spain. [speaking foreign language] [speaking spanish] correspondent isabella is one of thousands in spain working as a live in cleaner. They are often mistreated, as now many are trapped. [speaking spanish] correspondent for months, isabella had to refuse sexual requests. [speaking spanish] correspondent what happens when the lockwn started . [speaking spanish] correspondent two weeks into the lockdown, she was fired without notice. Many women are still having these nightmares. We have heard from workers who have been kept locked inside their employment employer homes since the start of the pandemic. I have managed to speak to one of them, maria, using audio messages. [speaking spanish] correspondent what has it been like being locked in the house now for several months . [speaking spanish] correspondent spain has more Domestic Workers than any other country in europe. It is a huge part of the culture. Because most of them live in the houses with their employers, they are so vulnerable to exploitation, and abuse. And crucially, domestic worrs rights as other workers and spain. [speaking spanish] correspondent edith has set up a union for Domestic Workers. During the pandemic, she has been contacted by around 100 women who have been kept inside like maria. [speaking spanish] correspondent the Spanish Government did not want to be interviewed, they told us that they do need to improve the rights of Domestic Workers, and that the cases of women being locked in houses is not acceptable. [speaking spanish] laura that is isabella, one of spains livein workers. The covid pandemic despite selling celebrations on hold this year. The bbc has encouraging intelligence about christmas. Santa and his helpers are doing everything they can to bring us holiday cheer, even if that means doing things to philly. Doing things definitely. Big smile. Correspondent this is christmas in the pandemic. In australia, the virus is largely under contro kids can visit santa, socially distance. In other parts of the row, meetin kids and present might be hard for santa this year. Ive heard rumors this year that christmas is canceled. But i say on my left boot. It is not canceled this year. To keep everyone safe, the ministry has created an app for virtual meetings. We still need something truffle to look forward to. We started thinking and working on virtual. Correspondent along with the real santa, for logistical reasons, and number of santas helpers are also getting tech savvy. Welcome to that ministry for santa school, 2020. We have spent a long time looking at ipads. After, for a child meeting a father christmas on a screen is actually a normal thing. Correspondent normal and 2020 at least. For santa, who is more vulnerable than most because of his age and weight, being extra cautious being extra cautious will be theafest way forward these holidays. Byebye. Correspondent bbc news. Laura christmas is definitely not canceled. Set that will be social distancing. What a relief. I am Laura Trevelyan. Thank you for watching bbc world news america. Narrator funding for this presentation of this program is provided by. Language specialists teaching spanish, french and more. Raymond james. The freeman foundation. By judy and Peter Blum Kovler foundation; pursuing solutions for americas neglected needs. And by contributions to this pbs station from viewers like you. Thank you. Yuyi i came to the unitedpbs. States when i was 24 years old. I did not speak any english. I felt very, very lost, really not knowing what to do with my life. One day on tv there was sesame street. Ernie and grover and cookie monster. And its not only that i learned to speak in english, now i know how to live in the United States. So this is how you do it now im powerful. Now i know i can do anything i want. I will make myself learn how to do it and i got that from pbs. I bought my first set of paints and brushes and i practiced. My path is childrens books. And i have found who i wanted to be. Which is that