COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News weekend update 20/21 June 2020.

The UK added 1,221 cases today and now has reported a total of 304,331 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 175,018 tests yesterday. 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we lost another 43 people who have tested positive to COVID-19. We now very sadly have a total of 42,632 losses of life in all settings.

England 158,940 / 38,138

Northern Ireland 4,870 / 545

Scotland 15,774 / 2,472

Wales 15,126 / 1,477

Rep. Of Ireland 25,379 (+5) cases and 1,715 (+0) losses of life. 

There have now been a total of 8,990,530 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 468,328. Already 4,782,577 people have recovered.

Northern Ireland reported no new cases of COVID-19 yesterday, for the first time since the epidemic began. It is a weekend, and some areas don't report at weekends, but an encouraging sign nonetheless. 

If you go into your phone settings and select Google /Apple Services, you'll find you already have the background technology for a COVID contact tracing app. on your phone. This is like having a telly with no buttons, and the UK (or your own) government health authority have to set up the front end - the control panel. 

In BBC telly interviews this weekend, Matt Hancock (UK face of COVID) implied he was very soon going to reduce the 2m physical distancing rule (as long as other measures are in place) and Boris Johnson (the blonde one) reasserted that venues (including pubs and restaurants) will not open until July 4th at the earliest. 

The world reported a record high of 180,874 new confirmed cases last Friday - June 19th. 

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

The UK added 1,346 cases today and now has reported a total of 301,815 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed or posted 169,600 tests yesterday. 5,030 people are in hospital, down 10% from this time last week (5,608). 354 people are in hospital using a mechanical ventilator. 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we lost another 173 people who have tested positive to COVID-19. We now very sadly have a total of 42,461 losses of life in all settings.

England 158,401 / 37,979

Northern Ireland 4,866 / 543

Scotland 15,742 / 2,464

Wales 15,001 / 1,475

Rep. Of Ireland 25,368 (+13) cases and 1,714 (+0) losses of life.

There have now been a total of 8,676,012 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 458,709. Already 4,574,409 people have recovered.

"If this virus has taught us one thing, it's the absolute importance of being flexible and adaptable when we have to be. The education system has shown that it can do this, and do so much more."

Gavin Williamson, Education Minister, UK. 

The UK's Joint Biosecurity Centre "has recommended that the COVID-19 alert level should move from Level 4 (A COVID-19 epidemic is in general circulation; transmission is high or rising exponentially) to Level 3 (A COVID-19 epidemic is in general circulation)."

The Chief Medical Officers for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have reviewed the recommendations and decided we are at the right point and they agree. 

"However, the virus is still in general circulation, and localised outbreaks are likely to occur. You must continue to wash your hands and keep 2m distance." 

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

The UK added 1,218 cases today and now has reported a total of 300,469 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 136,516 tests yesterday. 5,193 people are in hospital, down from 5,863 this time last week. East of England has very slightly risen. 360 people are on a mechanical ventilator. 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we lost another 135 people who have tested positive to COVID-19. We now very sadly have a total of 42,288 losses of life in all settings.

England 158,078 / 37,812

Northern Ireland 4,863 / 543

Scotland 15,718 / 2,462

Wales 14,970 / 1,471

Rep. Of Ireland 25,355 (+14) cases and 1,714 (+4) losses of life.

There have now been a total of 8,513,585 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 453,485. Already 4,487,325 people have recovered.

Public Health England data shows that during the last week, the number of people who died in the UK was no higher than the average, for the first time since the epidemic began. 

Today's UK briefing was with the face of the UK Covid response, Matt Hancock, and Baroness Dido Harding, Test and Trace person. 

Yesterday there were rumours that the UK's contract tracing app. wouldn't be ready until Winter because of problems locating iPhones. Matt Hancock confirmed that they've dropped it in favour of a Google/Apple collaboration. The Google/Apple system does have a flaw, it's a little generous with distance and not as precise as we'd like. The UK system is incredibly accurate on location. We will give the best parts of our app to them, and then we should all have the best of all worlds. 

The UK app isn't expected to be ready until the Autumn, and may never be as important as human contact tracing, which is already ongoing. 

The Imperial Vaccine is in the 1st phase of human clinical trials (and asking for volunteers!). AstraZeneca have started manufacturing the Oxford Vaccine (so fingers crossed it works!). We are reminded we have already stockpiled Dexamethasone - which has been found to reduce risk of death in very ill patients. 

From 4th - 10th June 5,949 cases were added to the contact tracing system. 73% provided contacts, 78% of those within 24 hours. Swift response is really important. 44,895 contacts were traced. 91% of those were contacted and  agreed to self-isolate. 

Testing is changing. Results are now connected to your GP records. Shifts have been changed so that people in labs can work 24 hours. (Actual speed - you can tell they've put a woman in charge of this bit.)

Public asked if laws will change so that people who want to, can continue to work from home? Matt Hancock reminds us that in the UK, as in a lot of the world, if you can work from home, you should. He said he will look and see if any legal changes might be helpful in facilitating this. 

Press asked about shielded people, will it come to an end at the end of July? Matt Hancock refused to give any more details, but said every shielded person will have a personalised letter explaining the next steps for them. 

The UK govt. advisors have decided on who will get access to a vaccine in the UK first, based on need. The priority groups are:

1. Frontline health and social care workers

2. Those at increased risk of serious disease and death from coronavirus - including, for example, adults over the age of 50, and those with heart and kidney disease. As we learn more, we'll keep updating this, including looking at risks to BAME etc. 

(Adults over 50 is a bit of a surprise, as I've never heard the UK refer to age 50 in relation to COVID before.)

Scotland has moved to Phase Two. Wherever possible people should remain in their local area and social distancing must be followed. The following applies only to Scotland: 

From tomorrow (Friday 19th) shielded people can leave their home for exercise and permitted non-contact sports, and meet with 1 other household (max 8 people). 

Those not shielding can meet with 2 other households (max 8 people), and use the toilet indoors. 

From Monday (22nd June) face coverings mandatory on public transport. Places of worship, dentists, professional sport, college and uni staff can reopen/return. 

From Monday (29th June) indoor workplaces excluding non-essential offices and call centres can reopen. Street access retail and outdoor markets can reopen. Outdoor sport and playgrounds can resume, zoos and gardens reopen for local visitors, outdoor weddings allowed. 

I actually love the focus on staying local that Scotland have. It is how you prevent Covid-19 being spread everywhere,  and makes it far easier to lockdown an affected area and stamp it out. 

The 2m rule has been reduced to 1m in Northern Ireland's schools. Schools reopen at the end of August. 

Hairdressers, barbers and beauty salons reopen in Northern Ireland from 6th July, and there will be a pause in shielding from July 31st. All shielded people will receive a letter with more details. 

Florida has reported a record 3.207 cases today and lost another 43 people. There are worries it is about to have an explosion of cases. 

According to the UN, before Coronavirus only 2.9% of the world's employees worked from home. In the UK around half of employees have changed to working from home, in Argentina 93% of large firms have moved to telephone working where possible. 

In just 2 weeks India moved from 19% of companies having some workers at home, to 96%. 

Lost their fight:

Paulinho Payakan, Brazilian Kayapó tribal chief 

The Google/Apple contact tracing ability was launched back in May. It needs a simple 'control panel' app to work, but the technology is already built into your phone. It doesn't eat battery and works by Bluetooth, and doesn't use all of your data up either. It's the model of choice by such big names as Finland, Italy, Portugal, Ireland and Denmark. 

Several countries started with plans for their own centralised app. and made the switch to the Google/Apple model, including Austria and Germany. 

A centralised app means that someone somewhere holds all the data collected in a central location. Worldwide it isn't very popular, as it would have information on exactly where you had been and who you were with - which some people object strongly to. The UK government wanted to hold the data for 20 years.

A decentralised app holds information on your phone. Every time your phone meets another, it sends a random 'hiya' code. When a person reports to the app that they have tested positive for COVID, it send a note to other phones it has logged "hi, remember me? I've got some news...". All data is deleted after 14 days, the usual incubation period for Covid-19.

79% of COVID patients in Atlanta, Georgia, US are black. 54% of Atlanta's whole population are black.

On February 17th there were 2,003 new cases of COVID reported worldwide. 

On March 17th there were 15,784 as COVID began to hit Italy. 

On April 17th there were 85,332 and COVID was widespread through Europe, and particularly bad in New York, USA. 

On May 17th there were 82,644 as COVID continued in Europe and more widely in the USA. 

On June 17th (yesterday) there were 145,194. COVID is now worldwide and cases are rising throughout Russia, Africa, Asia and South America. 

AstraZeneca has reached an agreement with Europe’s Inclusive Vaccines Alliance (IVA), which is led by Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands, to supply up to 400 million doses of the Oxford vaccine at no profit, with deliveries starting by the end of 2020.

They already have agreements with the UK, the US, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the Global Vaccine Alliance (GAVI) for 700 million doses, and have agreed a licence with the Serum Institute of India for an additional one billion doses, mainly for low and middle income countries.

Some people. Every single one shown as a number, but the number is no indicator of the people their life has touched:

Countries / Cases / Losses of life (some states /provinces yet to report):

USA 2,246,939 (+12,468) 120,239 (+298) 

Brazil 965,512 (+5,203) 46,842 (+177)

Russia 561,091 (+7,790) 7,660 (+182) 

India 378,171 (+10,907) 12,539 (+277) 

UK 300,469 (+1,218) 42,288 (+135) 

Spain 292,348 (+585) 27,136

Peru 240,908 not yet reported today 7,257

Italy 238,159 (+331) 34,514 (+66) 

Chile 225,103 (+4,475) 3,841 (+226) 

Iran 197,647 (+2,596) 9,272 (+87) 

Germany 189,565 (+61) 8,933 (+6) 

Turkey 182,727 not yet reported today 4,861

Pakistan 160,118 (+5,358) 3,093 (+118) 

Mexico 159,793 (+4,930) 19,080 (+770) 

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Sources:

https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/

Imperial - https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/198314/imperial-begin-first-human-trials-covid-19/

Oxford - https://www.ovg.ox.ac.uk/recruiting-studies

https://www.cio.com/article/3533248/coronavirus-lockdown-leads-to-an-enterprise-wide-work-from-home-wfh-in-india.html

https://www.wired.com/story/covid-19-contact-tracing-apple-google/

https://9to5mac.com/2020/06/04/switching-to-apple/

https://twitter.com/BBCNews/status/1273580668228861952

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

The UK added 1,115 cases today and now has reported a total of 299,251 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 140,359 tests yesterday. 5,308 people are in hospital, down from 6,123 this time last week. 379 people are using a mechanical ventilator, down from 494 on 9th June. 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we lost another 184 people who have tested positive to COVID-19. We now very sadly have a total of 42,153 official losses of life in all settings.

England 157,797 / 37,692

Northern Ireland 4,862 / 542

Scotland 15,712 / 2,453

Wales 14,922 / 1,466

Rep. Of Ireland 25,341 cases and 1,710 losses of life. 

There have now been a total of 8,323,028 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 447,960. Already 4,355,359 people have recovered.

"The world has now recorded more than 8 million cases of #COVID19.

In the first two months, 85,000 cases were reported. 

In the past two months 6 million cases have been reported."

Dr Tedros, Head of the WHO. 

Today's England briefing was with Tintin, or Oliver Dowden as he prefers to be called. He's the minister for digital, culture, media and sport, so that was today's focus. 

Premier League football is back today after 100 days pause, and negotiations mean 1/3 of matches will be on free-to-view TV.

Artists, performers and scientists are meeting over the next week to discuss ways we can bring back performing arts - theatres, live music, choirs etc. 

He is hoping that community sport will be able to resume in July. 

The English government will set up a COVID Summer School Food Fund to pay for lunch provision over the Summer holidays. Welsh and Scottish children's eligible parents will also receive vouchers, meals or bank transfers until children return to school. Northern Ireland haven't yet made a firm announcement.

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

The UK added 1,279 cases today and now has reported a total of 298,136 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 113,107 tests yesterday. 5,254 people are in hospital, down from 6,282 this time last week. 385 people are being treated with a mechanical ventilator. 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we lost another 233 people who have tested positive to COVID-19. We now very sadly have a total of 41,969 losses of life in all settings.

England 157,545 / 37,524

Northern Ireland 4,854 / 541

Scotland 15,697 / 2,448

Wales 14,869 / 1,456

Rep. Of Ireland 25,334 (+13) cases and 1,709 (+3) losses of life.

There have now been a total of 8,183,815 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 441,180. Already 4,268,049 people have recovered.

"If we treat 8 patients in intensive care with this drug, we'll save 1 life, and the total cost of treating all 8 patients is only about £40. This is really remarkable." 

Professor Peter W Horby, University of Oxford. UK RECOVERY Trial leader.

Boris has announced that school meal vouchers/free lunches in England will continue for all eligible children throughout the Summer. This is in direct response to a campaign by 22 year old Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford. Nice one Marcus. 

European countries are beginning to open borders, and have removed quarantine requirements for some countries. The UK have been excluded from this pretty much universally. I wouldn't want to go to any country which just let people from the UK step off a plane right now. Being brutal. 

How are you getting on? How is your mental health doing? The UK has been on lockdown now since 23rd March, it's been 12 weeks, and we don't yet have a clear end in sight, so it's certainly not the most comfortable position to be in. 

This week is Loneliness Awareness Week. You don't have to be by yourself to be lonely. Right now we all miss those people who fill our lives. We all miss our mates and our family. We miss the school run and seeing other adults in the playground. We even miss going out to work. We miss a stroll to the corner shop, waving hiya to everyone we meet, or hanging out at the park. We miss people. 

Shielded people may feel you have lost 3 months, and if you live alone or have spent a lot of that time alone, especially if you usually go out most days for work or any other reason, that will have felt an especially long time, unable to escape from your own home. 

One of my younger boys has struggled the past few days - that's why this post is a day late. He needed me yesterday. He was due to go back to school for 2 days this week, but the number of cases in our area is too high, and it's been put back until next week. He is feeling it. He misses his friends. 

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

The UK added 1,056 cases today and now has reported a total of 296,857 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 93,163 tests yesterday. 395 people are in critical care, down from 556 on 5th June. We have 5,507 people in hospital, down from 6,826 last week. (Today's numbers will be affected by weekend reporting, so are artificially low, but still show important progress week on week.)

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we lost another 38 people who have tested positive to COVID-19. We now very sadly have a total of 41,736 losses of life in all settings.

England 157,293 / 37,299

Northern Ireland 4,852 / 541

Scotland 15,687 / 2,448

Wales 14,804 / 1,448

Rep. Of Ireland 25,321 (+18) cases and 1,706 losses of life. (No deaths in the whole of Ireland were reported today.) 

There have now been a total of 8,058,676 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 436,996. Already 4,164,472 people have recovered.

Shops reopened in England today (it was Northern Ireland's turn on Friday), and they must have been giving away gold bars with every purchase, judging by the photos of scrums and queues outside Nike, Primani, Bicester Village etc etc. We are not alone. There were also massive queues of people when they reopened in Germany, The Netherlands, Denmark and pretty much any country you care to mention. It seems the world revolves on shopping. 

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News update 13th /14th June 2020.

The UK added 1,514 cases today and now has reported a total of 295,889 positive cases of COVID-19. It's only around 100 cases less than last week, which isn't as quick of a fall as you'd hope really - however it is still a drop. 

We completed 144,865 tests yesterday and in total we've reported completing 6,772,602 tests. The only countries that have tested more are the USA, Russia and China. Not testing enough at the start inevitably leads to more cases overall, and far more testing overall. 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we lost another 36 people who have tested positive to COVID-19. We now very sadly have a total of 41,698 losses of life in all settings, with a positive test result before the person succumbs. .

England 157,074 / 37,266

Northern Ireland 4,848 / 541

Scotland 15,755 / 2,447

Wales 14,742 / 1,444

Rep. Of Ireland 25,303 (+8) cases and 1,706 (+1) losses of life.

There have now been a total of 7,929,659 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 433,602. Already 4,076,120 people have recovered.

There has been a lot of speculation about the possibility of different strains of Covid-19 with slightly different features. A not yet peer reviewed study has found that in lab experiments, a specific coronavirus mutation allows it to infect more cells. If this variant causes greater infectivity in people, it could explain differences in severity of outbreaks.

The patient who has spent the longest time recovering in a US hospital, 70 year old Michael Flor, has had his bill. He spent 62 days in hospital, and the fee is a whopping $1,122,501.04. He is insured, but crikey it makes you appreciate the NHS, and just how expensive private healthcare is. 

A team from University of Manchester are investigating the effects of COVID-19 on hearing. Many diseases can cause hearing loss, and the team have identified 5 patients so far who have reported hearing problems, as well as having anecdotal evidence from COVID-19 doctors. It's unknown as to whether this is something we just haven't spotted yet (as it's not 'urgent' care) and more people will come forward over time, or if it's just random and coincidental. 

We've worked with Learning Resources a few times now, and a couple of weeks ago they sent us the GeoSafari Vega 360 Telescope to review. This is a very portable refractor telescope with a tripod stand, and magnifications of up to 20x 40x and 80x. Ideal for stargazing, bird-watching and just looking at the distant horizon... 

Inside the box everything is really neatly packaged, with minimal plastic. It's a really sturdy set of boxes and great for storage or transportation. 

There is some simple assembly required, which my 10 and 11 year old boys managed between them (after putting the telescope on backwards at first). 

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

The UK added 1,541 cases today and now has reported a total of 292,950 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 193,253 tests yesterday.

The number of people in hospital is down to 5,607 (from 7,036 this time last week). The number of people on a ventilator is down to 392 (from 571 this time last week). 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we lost another 202 people who have tested positive to COVID-19. We now very sadly have a total of 41,481 losses of life in all settings.

England 156,410 / 37,069

Northern Ireland 4,838 / 538

Scotland 15,709 / 2,439

Wales 14,658 / 1,435

Rep. Of Ireland 25,250 (+13) cases and 1,705 (+3) losses of life. 

There have now been a total of 7,668,683 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 425,803. Already 3,884,232 people have recovered.

Figures today released by the official SAGE indicate the R value is likely to be 1 or over in the South West of England. Over the whole UK, the figure remains somewhere between 0.7-0.9, but in England alone it's between 0.8-1.0. 

When the reproductive rate is 1, it means 1 case passes to 1 more person, passes to 1 more person etc and COVID-19 would continue forever with the same number of cases at any time.

Over 1 and it means some people are managing to infect more than 1 other person, so numbers are going up. The higher the number, the more quickly this is happening, and the more cause for alarm.

Under 1 and cases will be going down - the further below 1, the more quickly this is happening. 

Regional coronavirus R numbers are:

SW 0.8 - 1.1

London 0.8 - 1.0

Midlands 0.8 - 1.0

NW 0.8 - 1.0

SE 0.8 - 1.0

NE & Yorks 0.7 - 1.0

EofE 0.7 - 0.9

The number of cases of COVID is still the most important factor to look at, and remember, the less cases you have, the less reliable the R number is as a guide. If Northern Ireland had 50 new cases one week and only 25 the next, their R would be 0.5, but that's not an entirely realistic picture, because there's too much random chance involved. If England had 10,000 cases one week and 5,000 the next, it's still an R of 0.5, but a much clearer improvement.