COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News update 1st May 2020.

The UK added 6,201 cases today and now has reported a total of 177,454 positive cases of COVID-19. We have 15,111 people in hospital with COVID-19.

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we lost another 739 people to COVID-19. We now very sadly have a total of 27,510 losses of life. (This total includes ALL positive-testing loss of life, wherever it occurs.)

England 120,614 / 653
Northern Ireland 3,623 / 347
Scotland 11,654 / 1,475
Wales 9,972 / 925

Rep. Of Ireland 20,833 (+221) / 1,265 (+33)

There have now been 3,363,946 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is now 237,458. Already 1,069,041 people have recovered.


"If you open the door a little bit ... it comes back strong," Bill De Blasio, New York City Mayor.

Today's UK briefing was with Matt Hancock, Health Secretary.
NHS fertility services are being restored - it's massively time-sensitive and I'm sure this news will come as a relief to a lot of people.
The number of tests yesterday was 122,347 - we met the national goal of 100k per day. I have to say well done on that, I doubted them. Now, keep it up.
He thanked us for what we've all done so far, and asked for the same assistance when they begin the contact tracing. (We have saved potentially hundreds of thousands of lives from our living room.)

Prof John Newton, coordinator of the national testing effort, talked about testing. He said the virus circulated widely and at first testing wouldn't have made a difference (hmmmm). The lockdown wouldn't have been shorter if we'd tested as many people as we possibly could (hmmmm). Then he said some more things, including Germany doing better than us because they had extra tests to begin with (errrrm... yes). At this point I fetched a drink.
Then he talked about how useful testing will be with contact tracing. That's so true. Every country which is on top of their outbreaks uses contact -tracing, testing, isolating. It catches asymptomatic cases, low symptom cases, and sometimes it even finds people who actually need hospital care and were trying to muddle on through.

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News update 30th April 2020.

The UK added 6,032 cases today and now has reported a total of 171,253 positive cases of COVID-19.

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we lost another 674 people to COVID-19. We now sadly have a total of 26,711 losses of life. The UK are now adding ALL positive-testing loss of life to the daily totals, wherever it occurs.

Total numbers given:
England 118,343 / 24,110
Northern Ireland 3,536 / 338
Scotland 11,353 / 1,415
Wales 9,812 / 908

Rep. Of Ireland have 20,612 (+359) cases and 1,232 (+42) losses of life.

There have now been 3,272,102 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is now 231,312. Already 1,031,502 people have recovered.

Guess who was back for today's UK briefing? That man who used to be Prime Minister! Yes, it was Boris himself, just sneaking 1 appearance in for April. He thanked the NHS for his life, and apologised for not being here.
Tomorrow is our deadline for 100k tests a day - we managed 81,611 yesterday, so not bad at all - they are trying.
We have 15,043 people in hospital today.
We have so far succeeded - numbers are all going down, and no patient went without a ventilator, or intensive care. The reasonable worst case scenario was 500,000 deaths. "We are past the peak and we are on the downward slope."
Today Oxford University has announced a partnership with Astra Zenica, so that when a vaccine is ready, it will be available as soon as possible, not only to the UK, but affordably to poorer countries.
Next week he will set out a comprehensive plan for how to restart the economy. We are being guided by the science, and will try to build political cross-party consensus, support of the population, and it will rely on the 5 key tests.
1. Protect the NHS ability to cope.
2. Sustained fall in deaths,
3. Infection rate falling (consistently below R1 = reproductive rate 1).
4. Operational and logistical challenges on testing and PPE sufficient
5. We must not overwhelm the NHS with a huge peak.

Our latest review for the Asmodee Blogger Board Game Club is Century: A New World, which has been sent to us for review. Suitable for 2 to 4 players aged 8+, this is a tabletop strategy game which is the 3rd in the very popular series by creator Emerson Matsuuchi, and can be played alone or with either or both of the other Century games (Spice Road and Eastern Wonders).

A New World sees players take the role of explorers travelling the land, trading and collecting goods... and it's all done beautifully, with gorgeous illustrations and wooden playing pieces, including tiny tiny people.


Inside the box are 6 Double-sided Location Boards, 4 Player Boards, 48 Wooden Workers, 56 Cards, 10 Exploration Tiles, 25 Bonus Tiles, 4 Bowls, 105 Wooden cubes and 4 rulebooks (depending on whether you play standalone, or with 1 or both of the other games).

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News update 29th April 2020.

The UK added 4,076 cases today and now has reported a total of 165,221 positive cases of COVID-19. We tested 33,455 people yesterday, 632,794 in total.

The UK are now adding ALL positive-testing loss of life to the daily totals, wherever it occurs. Some numbers may be provisional. In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we lost another 765 people to COVID-19, but collective loss of life prior to that adds another 3,811 souls. Today's total is 4,419. We now sadly have a total of 26,097 losses of life.

England 115,859 / 23,550
Northern Ireland 3,463 / 329
Scotland 11,034 / 1,332
Wales 9,629 / 886

Rep. Of Ireland 19,877 / 1,159 (Not yet reported today.)

There have now been 3,186,694 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is now 225,529. Already 986,446 people have recovered.


Boris has had a baby boy. Both mother and baby are said to be doing very well. It's her first baby, and believed to be his 5th or 6th. It's not yet known if he'll ever actually stand at the briefing podium himself.

Today's UK briefing was hosted by Dominic Raab, Foreign Secretary.
He talked about what's happening in Germany, where cases and losses are rising at the moment, as a direct result of easing restrictions. We are still very slowly creeping down the curve, we can't go too early.
He listed some of the PPE we have recently received from abroad, and talked about repatriated UK citizens - including final passengers from luxury cruise ships (not all the crews are home yet though!).
We are still looking towards a vaccine, and the UK will give GAVI (Global Vaccine Alliance) £330m each year for the next 5 years. This will help ensure a vaccine is available to whoever needs it, wherever they are, and will benefit the entire world.

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News update 28th April 2020.

The UK added 3,996 cases today and now has reported a total of 161,145 positive cases of COVID-19.

As of 5pm yesterday, of those hospitalised in the UK, we have lost another 586 people to COVID-19. We now sadly have a total of 21,678 losses of life in hospitals. (Losses of life in the community are reported by ONS on Tuesdays - see below.)

Total cases and losses reported are assumed to be:
England 137,504 / 19,204
Northern Ireland 3,408 / 329
Scotland 10,721 / 1,332
Wales 9,512 / 813
(The government haven't been reporting how many of the UK's positive testing cases have recovered.)

Rep. Of Ireland have 19,877 cases and 1,159 losses of life.

There have now been 3,105,224 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is now 214,372. Already 944,116 people have recovered.


At 11am this morning the UK held a minute's silence for all of the health and social care workers so far lost to COVID-19.

It's Tuesday, so the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures have been released for England and Wales -  week ending 17 April 2020 (Week 16).  They include the losses of life in hospitals given by the government in the daily coronavirus totals, and also everyone who died outside hospital. They make grim, yet sadly not unexpected, reading:

The provisional number of deaths registered in week 16 was 22,351
This weekly total is 11,854 more than the five-year average.
8,758 deaths (39.2%) mentioned novel coronavirus (COVID-19)
In London, over half (55.5%) of deaths registered in Week 16 involved COVID-19. In the North West 42.3% and North East 41.1%

For the year up to Week 16 (April 17th) a total of 19,112 deaths involving COVID-19 had been registered in England and Wales.
77.4% (14,796 deaths) occurred in hospital
22.6% occurred in care homes (3,066), private homes (883) and hospices (190).

The ONS are trying to be completely transparent, so are working with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to bring us provisional numbers for Week 17 (Up to 24th April). They show that in the 2 week period 10 April to 24 April, CQC had been notified of a total of 4,343 deaths from COVID-19 in care home settings.

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News update 27th April 2020.

The UK added 4,310 cases today and now has reported a total of 157,149 positive cases of COVID-19. We had all together tested 569,768 people as of 9am this morning.

As of 5pm yesterday, of those hospitalised in the UK, we have lost another 360 people to COVID-19. We now sadly have a total of 21,092 losses of life in hospitals. Losses of life in the community are reported by ONS with a 2 week delay.

Total cases and losses reported are assumed to be:
England 133,974 / 18,749
Northern Ireland 3,374 / 309
Scotland 10,521 / 1,262
Wales 9,280 / 796
(The government haven't been reporting how many of the UK's positive testing cases have recovered.)

Rep. Of Ireland have 19,648 cases and 1,102 losses of life.

There have now been over 3 million reported cases worldwide - 3,029,761. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is now 209,244. Already 900,334 people have recovered.


Boris did a big speech outside Downing Street this morning. He promised all decisions will be made with complete transparency and scientific backing,  the opposition will be involved and we will be informed throughout the process. He asked for patience:
"I refuse to throw away all the effort and the sacrifice of the British people, and to risk a second major outbreak and huge loss of life, and the overwhelming of the NHS."
He pointed out we have defied predictions (we really have, 5 weeks ago no-one believed we wouldn't overwhelm the NHS).
He reminded us of the 5 points we need before we can move on to the second phase and make decisions on reducing restrictions:
1. Loss of life falling
2. NHS protected
3. Rate of infection solidly below R1
4. We have enough tests and PPE
5. Avoiding a second peak
To be honest the press are an absolute liability here. A reporter immediately shouted "when will the lockdown end?" to Dominic Raab when he arrived. Boris literally just said it. NOT YET. It makes the public twitchy and gives us a false sense that it could be any time now. It can't. Everyone going out today and adding to the count is being egged on by the UK press. There, I said it.

Today's UK press briefing was with Matt Hancock, Health Secretary, and he started by saying each day a member of the public will have a question (see image below).
Today the Government is setting up a life assurance scheme. Families who lose someone on the NHS and social care frontline to COVID-19, in the course of essential work, will receive £60,000.
We have 15,051 people in hospital, down from yesterday again, and today we have 3,190 spare critical care beds. Everyone has had the hospital care they needed so far.
Our 8th Nightingale hospital opened today.
We are reminded yet again to GO TO HOSPITAL if you are really ill. Our A&E visits are down by over 50%. Some is because our behaviour is different (less booze and driving), but some is because people are scared of COVID-19. If you need it, it's there for you.
Starting tomorrow, some ongoing medical care services will be resumed, starting with urgent Cancer treatments. It will be decided locally.

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News update 26th April 2020.

The UK added 4,463 cases today and now has reported a total of 152,840 positive cases of COVID-19. We had all together tested 543,413 people as of 9am this morning.

As of 5pm yesterday, of those hospitalised in the UK, we have lost another 413 people to COVID-19. We now sadly have a total of 20,732 losses of life in hospitals. Losses of life in the community are reported by ONS with a 2 week delay.

Total cases and losses reported are presumed to be:
England 130,130 / 18,396
Northern Ireland 3,308 / 299
Scotland 10,324 / 1,249
Wales 9,078 / 788
(The government haven't been reporting how many of the UK's positive testing cases have recovered.)

Rep. Of Ireland have 18,561 cases and 1,063 losses of life (not yet reported today).

There have now been 2,965,711 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is now 205,656. Already 871,265 people have recovered.


There are claims we should expect Boris back at work tomorrow, possibly in a staged return.

The UK briefing today was led by George Eustice, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Food availability levels are back to normal, supermarket staff have introduced measures and customers must respect this. Absence is now reducing, staff are back at work.
500,000 food parcels have been delivered to the shielded group, and supermarket delivery slots will be prioritised.
Other people are also in need of help with food shopping. Local Authorities, Age UK and other charities can make direct referrals for those in need through the Good Samaritan app.

Most trade is going well, there are a few problems, notably with goods coming from India, but it's mostly travelling freely.
England's fresh food season is ahead, only around 1/3 of the workers who would usually be coming from abroad are here, we are actively recruiting food pickers from June onward (Google 'Feed The Nation' if you fancy some cash for hard honest work). 

Prof Stephen Powis of NHS England with the slides.
IOS users are walking and driving more according to Apple maps data. 
We have 15,953 people in hospital with COVID-19, down again, especially in the Midlands. This is really positive and has been reducing every day consistently for most of this week.
We are beginning to see a slight overall drop in the number of patients lost.

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News update 25th April 2020.

The UK added 4,913 cases today and now has reported a total of 148,377 positive cases of COVID-19. We had all together tested 517,836 people as of 9am this morning.

As of 5pm yesterday, of those hospitalised in the UK, we have lost another 813 people to COVID-19. We now sadly have a total of 20,319 losses of life in hospitals. Losses of life in the community are reported by ONS with a 2 week delay.

Total cases and losses reported are:
England 108,051 / 18,083
Northern Ireland 3,226 / 278
Scotland 10,051 / 1,184
Wales 8,900 / 774
(The government haven't been reporting how many of the UK's positive testing cases have recovered.)

Rep. Of Ireland have 18,561 cases and 1,063 losses of life.

There have now been 2,873,629 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is now 200,719. Already 823,306 people have recovered.

"As I've said before, this is not a sprint, this will be a marathon."
Stephen Powis, NHS England


Today's UK briefing was with Priti Patel, the Home Secretary. None of them fit their clothes any more, they've all lost weight.
16,411 people are in hospital, that's almost 1,000 less than yesterday and really positive news. Sadly we have now officially gone above the 20,000 losses which the Government had aimed for - it was always hopeful.
She talked about domestic violence and reminded us it's not being tolerated.
Police data shows a drop in overall crime. We are cracking down on coronavirus related crime, including cyber crime against children, fake PPE, phishing scams, people driving at 150mph on empty roads etc. Police are still there for any crime, as well as supporting vulnerable people.

Lynne Owens of the National Crime Agency talked about changes to policing in order to adapt to changes in crime, but existing investigations haven't stopped - drugs and firearms are still being seized for example. People with online fake shops, sales of PPE and bogus home made testing kits have all been arrested.
Check out the cyberaware website to update yourself on your own protection, and the scams being run right now. If you believe you are a victim of any crime online, report it to the police immediately.

Professor Stephen Powis of NHS England was very clear - GO TO HOSPITAL if you are really poorly. Don't be so afraid of coronavirus that you don't call 999 if you need it. The NHS is still open for everyone, and we want to save lives.

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News update 24th April 2020.

The UK added 5,386  cases today and now has reported a total of 143,464  positive cases of COVID-19. We had all together tested 444,222 people as of 9am this morning.

As of 5pm yesterday, of those hospitalised in the UK, we have lost another 684 people to COVID-19. We now sadly have a total of 19,506 losses of life in hospitals. Losses of life in the community are reported by ONS with a 2 week delay.

Total cases and losses reported are:
England 105,225 / 17,372
Northern Ireland 3,122 / 263
Scotland 9,697 / 1,120
Wales 8,601 / 751
(The government haven't been reporting how many of the UK's positive testing cases have recovered.)

Rep. Of Ireland have 17,607 cases and 794 losses of life (not yet reported today).

There have now been 2,799,642 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is now 195,114. Already 775,504 people have recovered.


Today's UK briefing was with another terrified looking bloke, Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary.
We have 17,049 people in hospital with COVID-19, down from 17,615  yesterday, down 10% from this time last week.
The government has secured a trilateral agreement with France and Ireland that goods, medicines etc. will be able to travel freely. Ferry routes are being protected, and money is being allocated to ensure this continues (including to the Isle Of Wight, Isles of Scilly, Belgium, Sweden, Norway, Netherlands).
Money is also being allocated to Department of Transport, military, National Rail and trams. They will all work together to ensure supplies, energy, food parcels to vulnerable people and patients are all transported, as well as ensuring essential workers can get to work.
They are also trialling drones to deliver medical supplies. Money had already been allocated, so that testing programme is now part of our logistics and supply network.
A reminder that we don't know yet when the day will come that we meet the 5 points to reduce restrictions, but it will be quicker if we all stay home.

Luxury Cruise News: All British holidaymakers are now off cruise ships (we already knew this - see Sunday) but no mention of all of the crews.

Dr Jenny Harries went through the slides. Transport use is creeping up, it's 3% higher this week. Cases have gone up a little and it shows clearly that essential workers are around 1/3 of our new positive cases today. Increased tests are now available, so this rise is expected.
London shows a nice drop in cases in hospital. The number of new patients yesterday has fallen below 1,000 for the first time since before our peak.

This Summer we're working with Sudocrem on their Back To The Garden campaign - to encourage families to get growing, whether you have a garden, a yard, a balcony or a window.

Most of us are temporary teachers to our children, supporting their learning whether your school is sending work online, you are following the BBC Bitesize lessons, printing off worksheets or something else. We all take in much more information when it's fun, and growing your own plants is incredibly rewarding, as well as being a perfect opportunity to learn.
Long term projects are important right now. They give us a focus and something to look forward to. They can also offer some control in a world of uncertainty. Gardening is a brilliant way to get away from screens and focus on life.
Sudocrem gave away 100 growing kits to families, and they also gave away 3 to my readers. The kits are worth around £40 each, and have everything you need to get started, including seeds, gloves and gardening tools - and of course some Sudocrem to soothe a gardener's skin that's been scratched, prickled or stung, or just become dry from handwashing.