The Latest: Tenn. governor enacts new virus restrictions

___Follow AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak___HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:SYDNEY — The apparent spread of the COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney’s northern beach suburbs had slowed to 83 cases on Monday, an increase of only 15 infections in the past 24 hours.The number of new infections had halved since the previous 24 hours, despite more than 38,000 people being tested in the latest day, New South Wales state Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.She cautioned against any assumption that the rate of recorded infections will continue to decline.“Unfortunately, one day’s results doesn’t tell us it’s a trend,” Berejiklian told reporters. “In a pandemic, there is a level of volatility, so we’ll closely monitor what happens.”All 15 new cases were linked to two Avlon Beach live music revenues from where many infections originated on Dec. 11 and Dec. 13.The original infection is a U.S.-strain suspected to have leaked from Sydney hotel quarantine.More than 250,000 Sydney residents in the northern beaches area are under a four-day lockdown until Wednesday.Berejiklian said what restrictions continue over Christmas will be reviewed on Wednesday.All Australian states have imposed restrictions on travelers from Sydney and parts of New South Wales because the coronavirus risk.Berejiklian urged other state leaders to “think about things compassionately” due to Christmas approaching and to base decisions on border restrictions on the facts.___TORONTO — Canada is banning passenger flights from the UK in a bid to block a new strain of coronavirus sweeping across southern England.A person familiar with the matter confirmed the development on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly ahead of an announcement.France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Ireland and Bulgaria all announced restrictions on U.K. travel, hours after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that Christmas shopping and gatherings in southern England must be canceled because of rapidly spreading infections blamed on the new coronavirus variant.Johnson said Saturday that a fast-moving new variant of the virus that is 70% more transmissible than existing strains appeared to be driving the rapid spread of new infections in London and southern England in recent weeks. “We’re able to manage this volume right now.”Robertson said the company has seen holiday-level volumes for shipping packages since March because consumers switched how they buy products during the pandemic.___ZAGREB, Croatia — Croatia’s prime minister says the country is temporarily suspending air traffic with Great Britain over fears about the new strain of coronavirus.Several European countries said Sunday they would halt flights from the U.K., hours after Britain’s government imposed tough new coronavirus restrictions on large areas of southern England to curb what officials described as a fast-moving new strain of the virus.Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on Sunday said on Twitter the suspension will apply for 48 hours until more information is available.Plenkovic says “citizens’ health comes first.”___DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Saudi Arabia has temporarily suspended all international passenger flights for citizens and residents over fears about the fast-spreading new variant of the coronavirus.The kingdom’s interior ministry says the one-week flight ban may be extended “until medical information about the nature of this virus becomes clear.”The country’s land and sea ports will also close for a week. “So, we want to be optimistic, but we want to be cautious as well.”Murthy, who also served as surgeon general in the Obama administration, said Biden’s promise of 100 million vaccines during his first 100 days in office is realistic and that the Biden team has seen more cooperation from Trump administration officials.___WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s surgeon general is defending Trump’s not getting a coronavirus vaccine, saying there are medical reasons for it.U.S. Surgeon General and Vice Admiral Jerome Adams, speaking on CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday, noted that Trump both contracted COVID-19 in October and was treated with monoclonal antibodies.“And that is actually one scenario where we tell people maybe you should hold off on getting the vaccine, talk to your health provider to find out the right time,” Adams said.Asked about Trump doing a public-service announcement for the vaccine to encourage his supporters to get it, Adams noted that both he and Vice President Mike Pence got vaccinated.Adams, who is Black, said he understands that mistrust of the medical community and the vaccine among Blacks “comes from a real place,” the mistreatment of communities of color.___JERUSALEM __ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the country is banning flights from Britain, Denmark or South Africa due to fears about the new strain of coronavirus.“Those are the countries where the mutation is found,” he said.He also said Sunday that anyone returning from those countries would have to go into mandatory 14-day quarantine in state-run hotels.Netanyahu spoke a day after he was vaccinated against the coronavirus – the first Israeli to do so in what he said was an attempt to encourage the public to follow suit. Eurostar said they’re awaiting further details from relevant governments on how travel restrictions will be enforced.European countries including the Netherlands, Austria and Italy said Sunday they would halt flights from the U.K., hours after Britain’s government imposed tough new coronavirus restrictions on large areas of southern England to curb what officials described as a fast-moving new strain of the virus.___MILAN — Both the number of COVID deaths and new positives were significantly lower on Sunday, a day when typically many fewer tests are carried out.