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

The UK added 2,095 cases today and now has reported a total of 271,222 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 131,458 tests yesterday.

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we lost another 324 people who have tested positive to COVID-19. We now very sadly have a total of 38,161 losses of life in all settings.

England 151,982 / 34,010

Northern Ireland 4,696 / 518

Scotland 15,327 / 2,316

Wales 13,827 / 1,317

Rep. Of Ireland 24,876 (+35) cases and 1,645 (+6) losses of life. 

There have now been a total of 5,970,911 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 364,291. Already 2,629,624 people have recovered.

Today's UK briefing was with Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor, and Steve Powys of NHS England.

The furlough scheme will be in place until October. Employers are being asked to contribute towards the wages of their staff. 

In June and July the furlough scheme continues as before. 

In August the taxpayer contribution stays at 80% and employers are asked to pay employer pension contributions and National Insurance. 

In September taxpayers will pay 70% and employers contribute 10%

In October employers 60% and taxpayers pay 20%. 

Then the furlough scheme will close. 

You must be registered by June 10th to benefit from furlough.

Flexible Furlough is being introduced from July 1st. Employers have flexibility for themselves and their staff. You can go back part time while it's quiet, and do more hours later for example. 

Self-employed people who are affected can also apply for another payment of 70% of 3 months average profit, up to £6,570. 

Press said Downing Street admitted this morning that we are still at Alert Level 4, but we are beginning to relax restrictions, which we said we'd do only when we were at Alert Level 3? Are we still 'following the science'? Did we 'press ahead regardless?'. Rishi talked lots and said little. 

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

Better news today, as the UK's weekly losses of life to COVID-19 has fallen below 1,000 for the first time, and London has lost less than 100 people. 

The UK added 1,887 cases today and now has reported a total of 269,127 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 119,587 tests yesterday. 8560 people are in hospital, down 11% from this time last week. 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we lost another 377 people who have tested positive to COVID-19. We now very sadly have a total of 37,837 losses of life in all settings.

England 151,422 / 33,710

Northern Ireland 4,679 / 516

Scotland 15,288 / 2,304

Wales 13,725 / 1,307

Rep. Of Ireland 24,803 cases and 1,631 losses of life. (Not yet reported today.) 

There have now been a total of 5,854,248 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 359,812. Already 2,539,969 people have recovered.

England and Scotland's Test And Trace has launched. The app. has some problems, so isn't yet live, but around 25,000 human contact tracers are now working, to inform people when you've been in contact with someone who has tested positive. This could be in your home, workplace, school or other location. Contact is currently defined as a distance of less than around 2m/8ft for 15 minutes or more. 

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

The UK added 2,013 cases today and now has reported a total of 267,240 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 117,013 tests yesterday. 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we lost another 412 people who have tested positive to COVID-19. We now very sadly have a total of 37,460 losses of life in all settings.

England 150,903 / 33,362

Northern Ireland 4,663 / 514

Scotland 15,240 / 2,291

Wales 13,653 / 1,293

Rep. Of Ireland 24,803 (+68) cases and 1,631 (+16) losses of life. 

There have now been a total of 5,741,807 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 354,762. Already 2,470,546 people have recovered.

Today's UK briefing was led by Matt Hancock, our stand-in PM, and Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, plus Dido Harding, Executive Chair of NHS Test and Trace. Totally missed most of it and watched it on fast forward, because I was watching the Boris thing (see below). 

They launched the UK's Track and Trace service. 

If you have been in close contact (within 2 metres/8 ft for more than 15 minutes) of someone who develops symptoms, you'll be contacted and instructed to isolate for 14 days, to see if symptoms develop. 

This is a move from a national lockdown, to more localised and targetted reaction. It will help restore freedoms that we all want back. 

We have capacity for 161,000 tests a day.

Eligibility for testing is now open to any person with symptoms, whatever their age. 

If you have symptoms, YOU MUST isolate yourself and book a test. 

FROM 9am TOMORROW, IF YOU ARE CONTACTED BY A UK TRACK AND TRACE ADVISOR, AND TOLD TO ISOLATE, EVEN IF YOU HAVE NO SYMPTOMS - YOU HAVE TO ISOLATE FOR 14 DAYS. 

Your household don't have to isolate unless you develop symptoms or have a positive test result. 

There will be bumps ahead, it's a big system launched quickly, but it's one of the tools to finish the job. The app. isn't quite ready, so that will follow. 

Yesterday 94$ of people had a test result within 48 hours, and they are improving that and listening to user feedback.

The Build Your Own Telescope is a really fantastic set with a very beautiful telescope, but much more than that, you learn how a telescope works as you build, and along with that learn about light, reflection, construction and engineering! It's an all round STEM toy, and we were sent one to review. 

We love our STEM toys and all things space, so the Build Your Own Telescope really caught the attention of my 11 year old son. He was so excited he built it within 48 hours of it arriving. Everything is paper, the only plastic parts are the lenses, so it's an incredibly eco-conscious toy. 

Even the packaging is a cleverly designed cardboard box, which is folded to protect the lenses during transit. 

Inside the very small box is everything you'll need. 29 slot together cardboard parts, magnification lens, eyepiece lens, mirror and easy-to-follow instruction leaflet. 

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

The UK added 2,004 cases today and now has reported a total of 265,227 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 109,979 tests yesterday. 8,802 people are in hospital, including 98 members of NHS staff. 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we lost another 134 people who have tested positive to COVID-19. We now very sadly have a total of 37,048 losses of life in all settings. 

For the first time since the 18th March, yesterday there were no deaths recorded in Northern Ireland. This is a fantastic piece of news. Well done to the whole of Ireland for suppressing cases so well. 

England 150,294 / 32,979

Northern Ireland 4,637 / 514

Scotland 15,185 / 2,273 

Wales 13,556 / 1,282

Rep. Of Ireland 24,698 cases and 1,606 losses of life. 

There have now been a total of 5,637,544 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 349,301. Already 2,404,977 people have recovered.

I was hoping not to cover any more Dominic Cummings news, but the conservative party is imploding. Almost 40 Conservative MP's have asked for his resignation, 1 minister had already resigned by lunchtime, and the internet was awash with the fact Cummings said his blog demonstrated 'his Coronavirus knowledge was essential' - but he added everything mentioning Coronavirus in mid-April. Sadly we are in the middle of a pandemic, so it's not ideal timing for this, but it's beginning to feel like an episode of Game Of Thrones where we're not sure who is paying the advisor, or why the King feels he can't sack him, but the peasants are definitely revolting. 

The ONS (Office For National Statistics) have released more accurate figures for England and Wales in the week ending 15 May 2020 (Week 20). (The early May Bank Holiday in Week 19 means the number of registrations in Week 20 was artificially high.)

The number of deaths registered in Week 20 was 14,573, which is 4,385 more than the five-year average.

Of the deaths registered in Week 20, 3,810 mentioned COVID-19, the lowest number of deaths involving COVID-19 in the last six weeks, 26.1% of all deaths.

People aged 90 years and over continued to have the highest number of COVID-19 deaths in Week 20.

In Week 20, 30.6% of all deaths occurred in care homes.

The number of deaths in care homes was 2,350 higher than the five-year average.

37.2%. of all deaths in care homes mentioned COVID-19. 

The percentage of deaths involving COVID-19 continued to decrease across all English regions; the North West had the highest number of COVID-19 deaths (620) for the second week in a row.

In Wales, there were 180 deaths registered in Week 20 involving COVID-19, accounting for 23.3% of all deaths registered in Wales.

The number of deaths registered in the whole UK in the week ending 15 May 2020 (Week 20) was 16,366 of which 4,210 deaths involved COVID-19.

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

There's a problem with figures and hospital tests aren't included today, plus it is a Bank Holiday after a weekend, so numbers are artificially low. 

The UK added 1,625 cases today and now has reported a total of 261,184 positive cases of COVID-19. 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we lost another 121 people who have tested positive to COVID-19. We now very sadly have a total of 36,914 losses of life in all settings.

England 149,802 / 32,864

Northern Ireland 4,609 / 506

Scotland 15,156 / 2,270

Wales 13,415 / 1,274

Rep. Of Ireland 24,698 (+59) cases and 1,608 losses of life. For the first time since March they have reported no new losses of life - excellent news. 

There have now been a total of 5,554,316 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 348,139. Already 2,331,597 people have recovered.

I'm not waiting for a 7pm UK briefing because we won't get tea until gone 9pm, so if anything exciting happens, I'll seamlessly edit it in later. 

The average timescale for COVID-19 (will vary):

Day 0 - catch COVID-19 

Day 2 - become infectious

Day 5 - symptoms start (day 2 to day 14+. Around 30%+ have no symptoms) 

Day 12 - patients whose symptoms have not eased may now have the severe form of the virus (and develop pneumonia and other complications). 

At 8am today Weston Super Mare hospital was full:

"Weston General Hospital will temporarily stop accepting new patients, including into its A&E department, as of 8am today (Monday 25 May 2020).

This is a precautionary measure in order to maintain the safety of staff and patients in response to the high number of patients with Coronavirus in the hospital."

2 weeks ago Weston Super Mare tourism bosses were in the media, worried about people visiting over the V.E. Day Bank Holiday weekend and bringing COVID-19 from harder hit areas. 

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

The UK added 2,409 cases today and now has reported a total of 259,559 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 110,401 tests yesterday. 8,951 people are in hospital, down 11% from this time last week. 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we lost another 118 people who have tested positive to COVID-19. We now very sadly have a total of 36,793 losses of life in all settings.

England 149,308 / 32,760

Northern Ireland 4,570 / 505

Scotland 15,101 / 2,261

Wales 13,309 / 1,267

Rep. Of Ireland 24,639 (+57) cases and 1,608 (+4) losses of life. 

There have now been a total of 5,462,638 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 345,406. Already 2,286,820 people have recovered.

The UK government is in a bit of disarray at the moment. Many MP's from all parties are unhappy and utterly exasperated with Dominic Cummings' lockdown flouting, especially now unproven witnesses have come forward to say they saw the family out on a day trip to Barnard Castle. It's also alleged Mr Cummings returned to London, and then drove back up to Durham on a later occasion, where he was seen at Houghall Woods with his wife.  

It's really not going so well for anyone trying to defend his actions. 

Led By Donkeys this lunchtime parked a van outside his house playing video and audio clips of people who have suffered horrendously because of COVID-19. 

Today's UK briefing had a special surprise guest, Prime Minister of Great Britain, Boris de Pfeffel Johnson, and with him was Professor Stephen Powis of NHS England. 

Boris started by saying "I want to begin by answering the big question everyone's been asking for the last 48 hours, and that is, 'Is this government asking you, the people, the public, to do one thing, while senior people here in government do something else?'. He has spent several hours with Dominic Cummings and concluded that:

"In travelling to find the right kind of childcare, at the moment when both he and his wife were about to be incapacitated by Coronavirus, and when he had no alternative, he followed the instincts of every father, and every parent.... I believe that in every respect, he has acted responsibly, and legally and with integrity." 

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News update 23rd May 2020.

The UK added 2,959 cases today and now has reported a total of 257,154 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 116,585 tests yesterday. 9,331 people are in hospital, down 11% from this time last week. 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we lost another 282 people who have tested positive to COVID-19. We now very sadly have a total of 36,675 losses of life in all settings.

England 148,724 / 32,666

Northern Ireland 4,545 / 504

Scotland 15,041 / 2,245

Wales 13,169 / 1,260

Rep. Of Ireland 24,506 cases and 1,592 losses of life. (Not yet reported today).

There have now been a total of 5,360,914 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 341,829. Already 2,187,269 people have recovered.

Scandalous political news of the day is that Dominic Cummings (Boris' top aide) drove from London to Durham, to isolate at his parent's house when he had symptoms of COVID-19. Apparently it was because his wife was ill and nearby relatives were on standby to help with the kids and do their shopping for them, however it remains against the spirit of the lockdown, against the lockdown rules and potentially moves COVID-19 around the country. He's had support from people including Health Secretary Matt Hancock, and a few choice words from people who have kept to the lockdown, including plenty who have had to manage alone. 

Today's UK briefing was with Grant Shapps, Minister for Transport, and Dr Jenny Harries, Deputy Chief Medical Officer. 

A public transport fund of £283m to start returning to full service, but even at best we can only manage 1/5 of previous passenger numbers. 

PLEASE walk, cycle or drive if you can - in that order. Consider travelling off peak if possible. 

There'll be jolly people at stations to offer assistance (and I imagine remind you to maintain social distancing). 

This bank holiday weekend they're fixing Leeds station and the track to Wakefield, as well as about 490 projects that can happen much more quickly while we're all at home. 

Lots of other new road and rail schemes will happen, examples below:

They're replacing lots of stations axed by the Beeching Act - including the Ivanhoe line for Leicester to Burton, and branch lines in Somerset and Isle of Wight. 

The A66 will be finished too. 

More park and ride outside town centres.

We need to permanently change the way we use transport (bit long term that one!). 

From next month you can apply for a £50 Bicycle Maintenance Voucher. 

Press asked if it was appropriate to drive hundreds of miles to isolate nearer to family if you have symptoms of coronavirus (snigger). Grant and Jenny knew they were had. There was nothing they could say that helped the position. Press hammered them. 'Is it okay for anyone to drive all those miles if people can't attend funerals, see dying loved ones? What is the travel advice if you are ill? How far can you go to be near people to help you with shopping? "2 senior aides have already resigned after breaking lockdown, what is different about Dominic Cummings?" etc'.

They had an admirable attempt, but nope. They did manage to remind us that if you are vulnerable it would be a safeguarding issue, so in that case appropriate. They also managed to suggest TWICE that Dominic Cummings is not capable of looking after his own 4 year old by himself without it becoming a safeguarding issue - which I'm pretty sure is not what they intended. I can't comment, they know him, I don't. Surely even he can open spaghetti hoops. 

They had no chance. Second time running I bet Jenny has hit the gin straight afterwards.

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News update 22nd May 2020.

The UK added 3,287 cases today and now has reported a total of 254,195 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 140,497 tests yesterday. 9,307 people are in hospital, down 14% from this time last week. 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we lost another 351 people who have tested positive to COVID-19. We now very sadly have a total of 36,393 losses of life in all settings.

England 147,745 / 32,417

Northern Ireland 4,504 / 501

Scotland 14,969 / 2,221

Wales 12,984 / 1,254

Rep. Of Ireland 24,506 cases and 1,592 losses of life. 

There have now been a total of 5,255,285 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 336,817. Already 2,122,399 people have recovered.

The SAGE advice that the UK government received, which we are told led to their decision to plan to reopen schools to more pupils from 1st June (subject to us meeting conditions), was published today on the gov dot uk website......  SAGE studied the possible effects of 9 different options (including 'stay as is' and 'all back to school as normal'). Bizarrely none of these modelled options was chosen as the Government's actual plan. Awesome. Following the science hmmmm? I'm leaving that there.

Today's UK briefing was with Priti Patel, who is like a feisty teenager putting forward an argument for not doing the washing up. Grrrr....

She was joined by Paul Lincoln of UK Border Force and Patrick Vallance, UK Science Chief. 

The UK government plans for quarantine will happen from 8th June. Anyone arriving to the UK will need to self-isolate for 14 days at their own arrangement and expense 

Arrivals will be expected to provide addresses for spot checks. 

Failure to co-operate could result in removal from the UK or refusal of entry. 

A fixed penalty of £1,000 for non-compliance, repeat/serious offenders could end up in court. 

Exemptions include seasonal agricultural workers, road hauliers, medical professionals, foreign officials (E.g. French police), Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man. 

(It all sounds fairly standard and is pretty much what you'll find with most countries.)

Slides show the UK has a current R rate between 0.7 and 1.0. 

2-3 out of every 1,000 people in the UK actually had COVID-19 on any given day from 4th May to 17th May.  

The Government briefing ended with a reminder it is 7 years since Lee Rigby lost his life, and 3 years since the Manchester Arena bomb. 2 events which affected my own local community directly. She spoke with genuine respect. I never thought Priti Patel would make me cry.  

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News update 21st May 2020.

The UK added 2,615 cases today and now has reported a total of 250,908 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 128,340 tests yesterday. 9,543 people are in hospital, down 14% from this time last week. 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we lost another 338 people who have tested positive to COVID-19. We now very sadly have a total of 36,042 losses of life in all settings.

England 146,662 / 32,117

Northern Ireland 4,481 / 494

Scotland 14,856 / 2.184

Wales 12,846 / 1,247

Rep. Of Ireland 24,391 (+76) cases and 1,583 (+12) losses of life. 

There have now been a total of 5,138,992 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 331,696. Already 2,050,461 people have recovered.

"The Home Office is extending the offer of indefinite leave to remain, free of charge, to the families and dependants of NHS support staff and social care workers who die as result of contracting coronavirus.

The offer of indefinite leave to remain will be effective immediately and retrospectively."

This afternoon Boris Johnson has also asked the Home Office to exempt NHS and care workers who were originally born elsewhere from having to pay the Immigration NHS surcharge for using the NHS. 

Don't ask and you don't get. Ask and sometimes they pay attention. 

Today's England briefing was with Matt Hancock, the stand-in Prime Minister, plus Prof Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer and  Prof John Newton, coordinator of the national testing effort. 

He started by mentioning Mental Health Awareness Week. It really is okay to not always be okay -  especially right now. We are ALL a bit scared. 

A further £4.2m is being allocated to mental health charities including The Samaritans, Mental Health UK and Young Minds. 

He talked about the Oxford Vaccine (more below) and the antibody testing (more below). 

The UK's random antibody surveillance testing is showing us information about UK spread. So far the results suggest that: 

Around 17% of people in London and

Around 5% or greater of people across England

have tested positive for coronavirus antibodies. That's higher than earlier results seemed to show, and really does bring down our mortality rate massively. It's still horrific, but it is actually good news. 

Public Health England have authorised use of the 2 different reliable antibody (did I have it?) tests, and over 10m have been ordered. They'll be rolled out across the UK from next week, to NHS workers and social care firstly. 

A 20 minute swab test (have I got it?) is being trialled from today. They've been using these in Asia for a long time. 

The UK Test, Track and Trace (shouldn't we have 'isolate' on the end of that?) is on target to launch for 1st June. It is anticipated we have testing capacity to cope. 

Robbie Savage, ex-Wales and Man Utd/Crewe/Derby etc football player (and newspaper columnist) asked a question at today's UK briefing. Because the world wasn't mad enough already...