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

The UK added 1,570 cases today (lowest number since 25th march) and now has reported a total of 276,332 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 128,437 tests yesterday. 7,541 people are in hospital, down from 8830 this time last week. 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we lost another 111 people who have tested positive to COVID-19. We now very sadly have a total of 39,045 losses of life in all settings.

England 152,470 / 34,813

Northern Ireland 4,728 / 523

Scotland 15,418 2,362

Wales 14,054 / 1,347

Rep. Of Ireland 25,062 (+72) cases and 1,652 losses of life. 

There have now been a total of 6,315,908 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 374,955. Already 2,875,258 people have recovered.

Turns out the director of Primary Care for NHS England, Nikita Kanani, wasn't made aware of changes to shielding before the government announced it - her advice is no change, remain shielded.

Thank you to all of the teaching and school support staff in England, who no doubt had a very emotional day today, however many pupils you taught. I hope all of the children and grown ups had a really good start to an excellent week. 

Everyone else, depending where you are, you can meet up with some people who hopefully live less than 5 miles away, to watch live TV horse racing or snooker, or visit an outdoor market, but remember you are still socially distancing from anyone who isn't in your own household. 

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News update 31st May 2020.

The UK added 1,936 cases today and now has reported a total of 274,762 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 115,725 tests yesterday. 7,639 people are in hospital, down 15% from this time last week.

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we lost another 113 people who have tested positive to COVID-19. We now very sadly have a total of 38,489 losses of life in all settings.

England 152,176 / 34,272

Northern Ireland 4,716 / 522

Scotland 15,400 / 2,353

Wales 13,995 / 1,342

Rep. Of Ireland 24,990 (+61) cases and 1,652 (+1) losses of life. 

There have now been a total of 6,209,364 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 372,067. Already 2,770,322 people have recovered.

"In my opinion the rules are clear and they have always been clear. In my opinion they are for the benefit of all. And in my opinion they apply to all."

Prof Jonathon Van Tam, UK briefing 30/05. 

Luckily very little news yesterday, so it was a good day for a day off. Sadly Boris and Dom didn't take a day trip as far as we know, but Jonathan Van Tam made the above remark, which I'm incredibly relieved about. Our scientific advisors cannot allow fact to be overruled by politics, or we cannot trust them.

The 2.2 million very high risk people who’ve been shielding in England and Wales can go outside from Monday, but you are still shielded and must maintain social distancing and avoid busy places etc. In a bizarre and very sudden UK govt. announcement at 10pm last night, you can now go outside with your own household or meet 1 other person if you live alone. 

(This is against what Public Health England said the day before, and there's no obvious science behind it. I believe it to be a mental health move, which may be temporary, and may also be because they believe restrictions may last for a long time yet. Please continue to be really cautious about social distancing, stay outdoors, get changed when you get home if you have been near anyone else, through gates, sat on a bench etc. Treat everyone else as if they have the plague. Wash your hands.)

Other changes tomorrow, 1st June, vary by country. In England competitive sport, including horse racing. can resume with no spectators. Some children can return to school. Outdoor shops and markets can reopen, and car showrooms. 

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.