This month we've been working with Sudocrem to encourage everyone to grow something. The time is right to plant all kinds of seeds for food and flowers, and you don't need a big garden or expensive equipment to do it. 

We've been sent a simple outdoor growing kit, but even with no specialist equipment, and no big garden, you can plant things and watch them grow. 

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

The UK added 2,412 cases today and now has reported a total of 248,818 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 89,784 tests yesterday. 10,025 people are in hospital, down 17% from this time last week, but an increase of 617 since yesterday. 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we lost another 545 people who have tested positive to COVID-19. We now very sadly have a total of 35,341 losses of life in all settings.

England 144,984 / 31,530

Northern Ireland 4,421 / 482

Scotland 14,655 / 2,105

Wales 12,570 / 1,224

Rep. Of Ireland 24,251 (+51) cases and 1,561 (+14) losses of life.

There have now been a total of 4,946,173 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 322,579. Already 1,936,661 people have recovered.

"Dark & difficult days may lie ahead.

But guided by science, together we will overcome.

Let hope be the antidote to fear.

Let solidarity be the antidote to division.

Let our shared humanity be the antidote to our shared threat.

Now, more than ever"

Dr Tedros, Head of the World Health Organisation. 

It's Tuesday, so the latest ONS (Office for National Statistics) figures are out for Week 18, week ending 8th May. The number of registrations was impacted significantly by the Early May Bank Holiday on the Friday:

The number of deaths registered in England and Wales was 12,657, a decrease for the third week running, but 3,081 more than the five-year average.

3,930 deaths mentioned "novel coronavirus (COVID-19)", which was 31.1% of all deaths; this is a decrease of 2,105 deaths compared with Week 18.

The number of deaths in care homes (from all causes) for Week 19 was 4,248, this is 2,247 above the five-year average. Deaths involving COVID-19 as a percentage of all deaths in care homes continued to rise to 39.2%. 

"For the second week running, all regions showed a decrease in the percentage of deaths involving COVID-19; the North West had the highest number of COVID-19 deaths (597 deaths) for the first time."

"In Wales, there were 211 deaths registered in Week 19 involving COVID-19, accounting for 30.5% of all deaths registered."

Of deaths involving COVID-19 registered up to Week 19, 66.6% occurred in hospital with the remainder mainly occurring in care homes (26.7%), private homes (4.6%) and hospices (1.2%).

The number of deaths registered in the whole UK in the week ending 8 May 2020 (Week 19) was 14,408, of which 4,426 deaths involved COVID-19.

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News update 18th May 2020.

The UK added 2,684 cases today and now has reported a total of 246,406 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 100,678 tests yesterday. 9,408 people are in hospital (first time under 10,000 in a long time) and down 13% from this time last week. 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we lost another 160 people who have tested positive to COVID-19. We now very sadly have a total of 34,796 losses of life in all settings.

England 144,127 / 31,010

Northern Ireland 4,401 / 476

Scotland 14,594 / 2,103

Wales 12,404 / 1.207

Rep. Of Ireland 24,200 (+88) cases and 1,547 (+4) losses of life.

There have now been a total of 4,851,974 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 318,051. Already 1,882,132 people have recovered.

"The COVID19 pandemic is a reminder of the intimate & delicate relationship between people and planet" 

Dr Tedros, Head of WHO, at the World Health Assembly opening speech. 

"The Earth has confronted several pandemics before. This is the first caused by a coronavirus. This a dangerous enemy, with a dangerous combination of features: efficient, fast and fatal. 

COVID19 can operate in the dark, spread silently if we’re not paying attention, then suddenly explode if we aren’t ready. We’ve seen the same pattern repeated in cities & countries the globe." Dr Tedros.

Today saw the opening of the 2 day 73rd annual meeting of the World Health Assembly. This is the forum through which the World Health Organization (WHO) is governed. It is the highest health policy setting body in the world, and is composed of Health Ministers from all 194 member states.

For weeks Taiwan have been asking to be included, but at the last minute postponed their request for observer status. China say they're part of China, other countries, including Australia, say they're entitled to be there, and there's no doubt their expertise with COVID-19 is invaluable. 

Australia has called for an independent coronavirus inquiry. By the time today's assembly convened, 116 countries had co-sponsored the motion. They include the African Group's 54 member states, all 27 members of the EU, Russia, Indonesia, India, Japan, Britain and Canada, Brazil, South Korea, Mexico, Turkey and New Zealand.

The Assembly started with standard greetings and introductory statements, and then an address from China’s President Xi Jinping. He made the following proposals to bring COVID-19 under control:

-- We must do everything we can for COVID-19 control and treatment;

-- The World Health Organization should lead the global response;

-- We must provide greater support for Africa;

-- We must strengthen global governance in the area of public health;

-- We must restore economic and social development;

-- We must strengthen international cooperation.

 “All along we have acted with openness, transparency and responsibility.” He pledged $2b towards the COVID19 response and help to set up hospitals and health infrastructure in Africa.

A deal has been reached over an inquiry at the World Health Assembly this afternoon. China supports a "comprehensive evaluation" of the global response to coronavirus "after pandemic under control".

Since they called their highest alert level - a Public Health Emergency of International Concern - on January 30th, the World Health Organisation have shipped diagnostics, personal protective equipment, oxygen & other medical supplies to at least 120 countries, and trained more than 2.6 million health workers, in 23 languages.

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News update 17th May 2020.

The UK added 3,142 cases today and now has reported a total of 243,303 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 91,206 tests yesterday. 10,035 people are in hospital, down from 10,484 yesterday and down 15% from this time last week. (Northern Ireland testing data isn't complete.)

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we lost another 170 people who have tested positive to COVID-19. We now very sadly have a total of 34,636 losses of life in all settings.

England 143,311 / 30,866

Northern Ireland 4,357 / 473

Scotland 14,537 / 2,094

Wales 12,304 / 1,203

Rep. Of Ireland 24,112 (+64) cases and 1,543(+10) losses of life. 

There have now been a total of 4,770,160 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 314,530. Already 1,843,376 people have recovered.

Today's UK briefing was with  Alok Sharma, Business Secretary, and with Prof Stephen Powis of NHS England, we had an update on vaccines. The human trial people are doing well, and have all had their vaccine dose as planned. 

He announced an additional £84m for the Oxford Vaccine team and Imperial College for vaccine research and trials. AstraZeneca and the gov. have come to an arrangement about manufacturing. 

He warned it is always possible we may never have a vaccine, so therapeutics (drugs and treatments) are important. 6 drugs have now entered clinical trials in the UK. He didn't mention what they were. Long, tricky names and live TV maybe? 

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News update 16th May 2020.

The UK added  3,451 cases today and now has reported a total of 240,161 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 136,486 tests yesterday. 10,484 people are in hospital, down from 11,041 yesterday and down 12% from this time last week. 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we lost another 468 people who have tested positive to COVID-19. We now very sadly have a total of 34,466 losses of life in all settings.

England 142,523 / 30,753

Northern Ireland 4,357 / 469

Scotland 14,447 / 2,053

Wales 12,142 / 1,191

Rep. Of Ireland 24,048 (+92) cases and 1,533 (+15) losses of life.

There have now been a total of 4,682,011 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 310,651. Already 1,790,568 people have recovered.

Today's UK briefing was with Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson. 

He thanked school and other education and care staff who have looked after children and their education for the last 8 weeks. He said that we have been quite clear all along that we'd only start inviting children back into schools when the 5 key tests have been met. We do want to see children back in. 

"We can now start the plan, for a very limited return to school, for some pupils, potentially as early as next month."

"If the rates of infection are decreasing, it will give us the green light to get children back into childcare, and more of them back into school, from 1st June."

Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 are invited back to school first. Exam year high school students Year 10 and Year 12 are also hoped to achieve some face-to-face tuition. 

"We're prioritising these children because they stand to lose more." 

(There's masses of information on the dot Gov website about how they intend to make schools safer - you will get it instantly if you Google "UK Gov schools coronavirus".)

He reassures us that this approach is based on the best scientific advice.

At one point he nearly said something he shouldn't. 

"There is no better way of levelling up than through education, and the department has been doing an awful lot of work.....we're looking at different initiatives that we could maybe look at rolling out during the Summer period, but if you'll forgive me, I'll probably not divulge those just at the moment. They need a little bit more work." 

Over 20% of people who have died in the UK have had diabetes. Jenny Harries explained it's still not clear whether this is essentially because they have diabetes, or because they also have cardio-vascular disease, or are in fact simply far older. (Diabetes does seem to be more of a risk factor than previously thought.)

Coronavirus has affected us all, and we aren't alone. Around the world 87% of schoolchildren have had extra time off. Over half the world population have been in lockdown simultaneously. We're all a bit scared, but we aren't ever alone in that. Remind someone that they aren't alone, and encourage your children to do the same. 

And forgive people when they don't quite behave like themselves. Fear can make some people very angry, or very quiet, or snappy, or loud.  Be kind. 

Thank you to everyone who has shared their smiles this month. Anyone can join in! It seems we can all still smile, and not fall out with our family, even under lockdown. Loads of outdoor photos this month, we have been pretty lucky with the weather. 

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News update 15th May 2020.

The UK added 3,560 cases today and now has reported a total of 236,711 positive cases of COVID-19. Yesterday we completed 133,784 tests, and all together we have tested 1,663,492 people. 

10,024 people are in hospital, down from 11,041 yesterday and a 13% fall since last Friday. 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we lost another 384 people who have tested positive to COVID-19. We now very sadly have a total of 33,998 losses of life in all settings.

England 141,387 / 30,364

Northern Ireland 4,317 / 454

Scotland 14,260 / 2,007

Wales 11,960 / 1,173

Rep. Of Ireland 23,827 cases and 1,506 losses of life. Not yet reported today.

There have now been a total of 4,586,274 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 306,063. Already 1,734,903 people have recovered.

"Through solidarity, through trust, through working together;

we have a chance to turn a tragic pandemic into a beacon of hope for the future of our planet" - Dr Mike Ryan, World Health Organisation. 

The ONS (Office for National Statistics) have published data on care homes: 

"Since the beginning of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic (between the period 2 March and 1 May 2020, registered up to the 9 May 2020) there were 45,899 deaths of care home residents (wherever the death occurred); of these 12,526 involved COVID-19, which is 27.3% of all deaths of care home residents."

"The Care Quality Commission collect information on recipients of domiciliary care in England, between 10 April 2020 and 8 May 2020 there were 3,161 deaths of recipients of domiciliary care, this was 1,990 deaths higher than the three-year average (1,171 deaths)." (Domicillary Care is extra help for people who live in their own homes.)

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News update 14th May 2020.

The UK added 3,446 cases today and now has reported a total of 233,151 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 126,064 tests yesterday. 11,041 people are in hospital. 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we lost another 428 people who have tested positive to COVID-19. We now very sadly have a total of 33,614 losses of life in all settings.

England 140,275 / 30,028

Northern Ireland 4,291 / 449

Scotland 14,117 / 1,973

Wales 11,834 / 1,164

Rep. Of Ireland 23,401 cases and 1,497 losses of life. Not yet reported today.

There have now been a total of 4,485,940 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 has met another unwelcome milestone, at 300,674. Already 1,687,565 people have recovered.

Grant Shapps, Transport Secretary, took today's UK briefing, with Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, Deputy Chief Medical Officer. 

The transport system will have to change. You should walk or cycle whenever you can. If you can't, and you have access to a car, please use it. Public Transport is going to be a mess while social distancing occurs. 

He explained that while we've been at home, they've done absolutely tons of work on the transport infrastructure. They've done loads of big jobs, including 419 upgrades to Network Rail over Easter. The A14 upgrade has been completed 7 weeks early. £96m of improvements occurred on Northern train lines over April. 

They're working on filling potholes for cyclists and the upcoming scooter trials (available to any local authority who wants them). He announced a £2b package for upgrading roads. 

We want to retain some of the air quality improvements we've noticed and are already benefiting from. We want to move on. We've already learned a lot is possible. We need to continue to think outside the box and use the skills we've gained over the last few weeks to make improvements. 

Sounds like there may in future be incentives for electric car use. Don't forget if you want to get a bike to go to work, your employer can help - Google Cycle To Work Scheme. 

No age group is more or less likely to catch COVID-19. Children catch it as much as adults of any age. See below.

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News update 12th May 2020.

The UK added 3,403 cases today and now has reported a total of 226,463 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 85,293 tests yesterday. We have 11,605 people in hospital, up from 11,465 yesterday.

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we lost another 627 people who have tested positive to COVID-19. We now very sadly have a total of 32,692 losses of life in all settings.

England 137,940 / 29,260

Northern Ireland 4,193 / 438

Scotland 13,763 / 1,862

Wales 11,573 / 1,132

Rep. Of Ireland 23,242 (+107) cases and 1,488 (+21) losses of life. 

There have now been a total of 4,309,359 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is now 290,361. Already 1,555,092 people have recovered.

This afternoon UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak made this announcement:

"The job retention scheme will be extended for 4 months, until the end of October. By that point we will have provided 8 months of support to British people and businesses. 

Until the end of July there will be no changes whatsoever. Then from August to October the scheme will continue for all sections and regions of the UK , but with greater flexibility to support the transition back to work. Employers currently using the scheme will be able to bring furloughed employees back part time, and we will ask employers to start sharing, with the government, the cost of paying people's salaries."

Employers will, from August, be asked to put money towards the furlough, in order to continue paying people 80% wages. 

It's Tuesday, so the UK's ONS (Office for National Statistics) mortality figures are out: 

Week ending 1 May 2020 (Week 18): 

"The number of deaths registered in England and Wales was 17,953, a decrease for the second week running, but 8,012 more than the five-year average for Week 18."

"Of the deaths registered in Week 18, 6,035 mentioned “novel coronavirus (COVID-19)”, which was 33.6% of all deaths."

The number of deaths registered in the whole UK was 20,033, of which 6,676 deaths involved COVID-19.

Yearly totals: 

"Of deaths involving COVID-19 registered up to Week 18, 68.5% (22,873 deaths) occurred in hospital, with the remainder mainly occurring in care homes (8,312), private homes (1,562) and hospices (386)."