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

The UK added 445 cases today and now has reported a total of 295,817 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 101,741 tests yesterday. On Sunday 19th July 1,612 people were in hospital with COVID, and on Monday 129 people were using a ventilator. 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we lost another 110 people who have tested positive to COVID-19. We now very sadly have a total of 45,422 official losses of life in all settings.

England 254,519 / 40,828

Northern Ireland 5,859 / 556

Scotland 18,474 / 2,491

Wales 16,965 / 1,547

Rep. Of Ireland 25,802 (+36) cases and 1,753 losses of life. 

There have now been a total of 14,965,116 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 615,767. Already 8,985,407 people have recovered.

On Sunday, for the first time since the virus took hold in February, Lombardy in Italy reported no daily loss of life to COVID-19.

The Oxford vaccine candidate phase 2 study results are out, and they are excellent. There were no patients who experienced a 'severe clinical event', so it seems safe. The Oxford uni press release tells it very clearly:

"The vaccine provoked a T cell response within 14 days of vaccination (white blood cells that can attack cells infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus), and an antibody response within 28 days (antibodies are able to neutralise the virus so that it cannot infect cells when initially contracted)."

Remember we DO NOT yet have proof that a vaccine will actually prevent you from catching COVID,  or how long it will give immunity for, but this is the best place to start. 

Phase 3 human trials are already underway in two countries where COVID is rife in the community, Brazil and South Africa, and 30,000 patients are being recruited in the USA. There will also be a paediatric study. 

The Teen Calm box is exactly what it sounds like - a box full of soothing and relaxing goodies to make any young person feel cared for and calmed. I was asked if we'd like to receive a box to review and as I don't have any actual teenagers here at the moment, my almost 12 year old son said he'd happily take a look. 

Uncertainty and changed plans are things my son finds quite hard, so a global pandemic and closing schools aren't exactly what he'd have chosen for 2020. I know he isn't alone. Teen Calm has come along at the perfect time... 

Boxes such as this are generally aimed at girls, so I'm especially impressed with the fact that Teen Calm have worked hard to make their product accessible to everyone, with a feminine or gender-neutral option. 

"Teen Calm is for anyone who needs their confidence lifting and a little reminder that they’re not alone. Any teen out there who feels left out, anxious, or in need of an extra boost, will benefit from the Teen Calm subscription box."

Although their main business is in subscriptions, you can also order a one-off Mystery Box, also in feminine or gender-neutral. 

Inside everything is wrapped in tissue, which my son really liked - apparently boys don't often get specially wrapped packages, so that's a win. And it is true. 

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News weekend update 18/19 July 2020.

The UK added 726 cases today and now has reported a total of 294,792 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 140,393 tests yesterday. 

1,690 people were in hospital on Thursday 16th, down from 2,172 a week before.  On Friday 17th, 143 patients were using a ventilator.

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we reported the loss of another 27 people who have tested positive to COVID-19. We now very sadly have a total of 45,300 official losses of life in all settings.

England 253,585 / 40,706

Northern Ireland 5,834 / 556

Scotland 18,445 / 2,491

Wales 16,928 / 1,547

Rep. Of Ireland 25,750 (+10) cases and 1,753 losses of life. 

There have now been a total of 14,530,599 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have officially lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 606,762. Already 8,670,395 people have recovered.

Over the two days Friday and Saturday, almost 500,000 new cases of Covid-19 were reported to the World Health Organisation. Over those 2 days, the United States of America reported more than 138,000 new cases of COVID. 

Since the beginning of the outbreak, Europe has in total reported over 3m cases and The Americas (North and South) over 7m. 

England's Test And Trace continues to get a proper slating. Professor Dominic Harrison, the public health director of Blackburn with Darwen borough council (which has a significant outbreak) investigated, and found Track And Trace in the North West was so bad, it's actually hampering efforts to contain the outbreak. Andy Burnham, Manchester Mayor, put it incredibly succinctly:

"The local public health teams identify 99% of the contacts of those they test. But they don’t get data from those tested by Deloitte. And Serco have managed only 59000 contacts in 6 weeks ie <1 contact per tracer per fortnight. A £10 billion shambles."

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

The UK added 687 cases today and now has reported a total of 293,239 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 165,966 tests yesterday. 1,835 people were in hospital on Wednesday 17th,  with 142 using a ventilator. 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we lost another 114 people who have tested positive to COVID-19. We now very sadly have a total of 45,233 officially reported losses of life in all settings.

England 252,117 / 40,640

Northern Ireland 5,834 / 556

Scotland 18,401 / 2,491

Wales 16,887 / 1,546

Rep. Of Ireland 25,698 cases and 1,749 losses of life. (Not yet reported today.) 

There have now been a total of 14,059,170 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 595,005. Already 8,360,756 people have recovered.

𝘞𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘭. 𝘞𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘹𝘩𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯... 

𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘥 – 𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 – 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴...

𝘞𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘣𝘺𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦, 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯’𝘴 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦.

...𝘞𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴, 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥, ‘𝘋𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦.

𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦f𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦’𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 & 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦r...𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 & 𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴.”

Aroa López, Nurse, Madrid, Spain. 

"So far, about 10% of all COVID19 cases globally are among health workers."

Dr Tedros, Head of WHO (World Health Organisation). 

I'm sure you know how much we love science, so being asked if we'd like to take part in a 'Be Inspired' learning session online with NatGeo Explorers was right up our street. This is to demonstrate the type of content and experience on NatGeo's new platform, NatGeo Family, to help you and your children learn from home without any chance of getting bored. Even better, it's all FREE (although obviously if you subscribe to National Geographic, you can get more in-depth content over on the grown ups site). 

Our one hour workshop was over a lunchtime, held online via a meeting app. which we could just use as a guest. We received the invite and log in details by email the day before, so we were able to get ourselves ready and be there prompt for the 1pm start. 

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News update 15 / 16 July 2020.

The UK added 642 cases today and now has reported a total of 292,552 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 152,063 tests yesterday. 

1,865 people were in hospital on Tuesday 14th, down from 2,172 last Thursday 9th (the previous reported date). 153 people were using a ventilator yesterday, down from 191 on Friday 10th. 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we reported the loss of another 66 people who have tested positive to COVID-19. We now very sadly have a total of 45,119 confirmed losses of life in all settings.

England 251,482 / 40,528

Northern Ireland 5,815 / 556

Scotland 18,384 / 2,490

Wales 16,871 / 545

Rep. Of Ireland 25,683 cases and 1,748 losses of life. (Not yet reported today.) 

There have now been a total of 13,807,695 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 589,193. Already 8,215,423 people have recovered.

Sir Ed Davey has asked if there will be a public inquiry to the English government's handling of the coronavirus crisis, and Boris confirmed there will: "We will seek to learn the lessons of this pandemic in the future". 

That'll be a fun watch.... 

From 16 August, Wales will be pausing shielding, as long as cases of coronavirus continue to decline. 

All Scottish school children will return full time after the Summer break, and will not be expected to socially distance. This is reliant on cases of coronavirus continuing to decline. 

Public Health Scotland is running a serology surveillance programme, testing the blood from around 500 people per week for antibodies. Since April 20th, the main points they have found so far are: 

- The proportion of people who had antibodies to coronavirus is estimated to be 4.3% over the combined weeks of this pilot study.

- The proportion varied each week between 1.9% and 6.8%. Across these weeks, we can be 95% confident that the value lies between under 1% and 10%.

- The proportion among males and females showed similar patterns across the study period.

- Week to week variation varied less when compared by age, in particular among older age groups.

Matt Hancock has announced easing of restrictions in Leicester. Pubs, restaurants and bars will remain closed and travel restrictions remain.  Schools, nurseries and non-essential retail can re-open from 24th July.

Public Health England have started publishing data on trends during the coronavirus crisis. The week lockdown was announced, alcohol sales went up from around 51,000 litres to 74,000 litres - and it's stayed that way. The good news is that the number of people who report 'often feeling lonely' has remained steady, and for men it actually dropped slightly over April and May. 

This year is very different. Some children have returned to school, some are even back to clubs. Some of you haven't yet returned to work, and some of you will work from home forever more. Some of you have been able to enjoy days out and meeting up with your family, friends, shopping, meals, the pub. For a lot of people the last couple of weeks have been considerably more free than the few before. Some people haven't yet felt ready to leave the safety of their home, their safe space. 

However you are feeling just now, it's okay. We've all taken a mental battering, and that's worldwide, not just the UK, or you. We all understand what it is to be scared of something we can't entirely understand. We all have to put our faith in people we'll never meet, and trust our loved one's safety into their hands. 

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

The UK officially added 398 cases today and now has reported a total of 291,373 positive cases of COVID-19. 2,172 people were in hospital last Thursday, 9th - which is a long time ago, and the figure they've used since Sunday. They've also not updated people using ventilators, which was 191 on Friday 10th. 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we reported the loss of another 138 people who have tested positive to COVID-19. We now very sadly have a total of 44,968 losses of life in all settings.

England 250,379 /40,379

Northern Ireland 5,790 / 556

Scotland 18,368 / 2,490

Wales 16,836 / 1,543

Rep. Of Ireland 25,638 cases and 1,746 losses of life. (Not yet reported today.) 

There have now been a total of 13,337,515 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 577,885. Already 7,782,643 people have recovered.

"There will be no return to the “old normal” for the foreseeable future. But there is a roadmap to a situation where we can control COVID19 and get on with our lives. No matter where a country is in its epidemic curve, it is never too late to take decisive action."

Dr Tedros, Head of the World Health Organisation. 

Well, waddayaknow. You WILL have to wear face coverings in shops and supermarkets in England from a week on Friday. It will be genuinely mandatory, with a £100 fine for non-compliance, reduced to £50 if you pay within 14 days.

"From 24 July, it will be mandatory to wear a face covering in shops and supermarkets, as well as on public transport. Your face covering must cover your nose and mouth at all times."

"You don't need to wear face coverings if: 

- physical or mental illness, impairment or disability means you cannot wear one

- wearing one causes you severe distress 

- you or someone you’re travelling with or providing assistance to relies on lip reading"

Previous UK Guidance on face coverings says they should NOT be used by children under 3, and children under 11 don't have to wear them on public transport, so I'm guessing shops will be the same (but wait until they say for sure). That said, you can get some cute little visors which clip onto sun hats and caps as an alternative - in all sizes. 

Already the English face coverings backlash and anti-backlash has started on social media, with some people referring to face coverings as muzzles. If you can't speak when you're wearing it, you have it on wrong. If it's preventing you biting other people, bonus. 

It's a tiny bit of cloth, and it'll get us out of restrictions more quickly - plus that sideline bonus of saving people's actual lives... 

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News weekend update 11th / 12th July 2020.

The UK added 650 cases today and now has reported a total of 289,603 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 134,890 tests yesterday. 2,172 people people were in hospital on Thursday 9th, down from 2,838 that time last week. 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we reported the loss of another 21 people who have tested positive to COVID-19. We now very sadly have a total of 44,819 losses of life in all settings.

England 249,510 / 40,234

Northern Ireland 5,772 / 544

Scotland 18,359 / 2,490

Wales 15,962 / 1.541

Rep. Of Ireland 25,611 cases and 1,746 losses of life. (Not yet reported today.) 

There have now been a total of 12,935,527 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 569,208. Already 7,535,262 people have recovered.

The press have caught on to the fact we have been building up towards making face coverings mandatory in shops in England. Michael Gove said on the telly this morning that he doesn't believe it should be mandatory, but it is his advice. It's actually been government advice now since lockdown, but they have rarely mentioned it. 

At first there was a real risk we'd completely run out of PPE, and the UK government, like many, said not to wear medical masks. They hadn't really thought of 'face coverings' or washable masks, and were so scared, they even went slightly the other way, suggesting that it could be more dangerous. Evidence wasn't available at the time to support the use of face coverings by untrained public, but it is now (although we were always capable of looking at Asian countries and saying "how come they don't have so many cases, what could possibly be the big difference?"). Now we have study results, we see face coverings can protect others by up to 85%, and can also help protect YOU. Learn how to remove it safely (by the loops). 

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News update 10th July 2020.

The UK added 512 cases today and now has reported a total of 288,133 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 160,970 tests on a rolling 7 day average. 2,248 people were in hospital on Wednesday 8th, with 188 using a ventilator. 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we lost another 48 people who have tested positive to COVID-19. We now very sadly have a total of 44,650 officially reported confirmed losses of life in all settings.

England 248,089 / 40,066

Northern Ireland 5,772 / 554

Scotland 18,333 / 2,490

Wales 15,939 / 1,540

Rep. Of Ireland 25,589 (+24) cases and  1,744 (+1) losses of life.

There have now been a total of 12,503,566 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 559,546. Already 7,291,738 people have recovered.

The English Government have published the latest R rate and it's not as good as last week. Some areas may be seeing no decline in cases, and others only a little. There is generally a little 'blip' whenever lockdown restrictions are eased, and around a 2 week delay in reported cases (3 1/2 week delay in mortality), so this is a result of reopening of schools, shops, bubbles forming etc. There will always be a blip because getting together with new people will give limited spread, but if everyone keeps to the rules, it's still very limited (e.g. you just pass it to your bubble mates and that's where it stops). 

Region / R (Growth rate % per day)

England 0.8-1.0 (-4 to -1)

East of England* 0.7-1.0 (-4 to +1) 

London* 0.7-1.0 (-5 to +1) 

Midlands 0.7-0.9 (-6 to -2) 

North East and Yorkshire* 0.7-1.0 (-5 to -1) 

North West 0.7-1.0 (-5 to -1) 

South East* 0.8-1.0 (-4 to 0) 

South West* 0.7-1.1 (-6 to +1) 

Apparently "*Extra care should be taken when interpreting these estimates as they are based on low incidence and/or clustered outbreaks within this area".

Current R values in devolved administrations: 

Northern Ireland - The current estimate of R is 0.5 – 0.9

Scotland - On 8 July, R in Scotland was estimated to be between 0.6 & 1.0.

Wales - "There is confidence that the R number in Wales is below 1 and has been for several weeks. However, the low number of cases and clustered nature of outbreaks means that the R number for Wales is no longer considered to be a reliable estimate to rely on as an overall measure of the epidemic." (True that. A massive outbreak at a food processing plant or two doesn't mean you are suddenly over-run, and is far easier to contain and suppress than the half that number of cases scatterbombed all around the country.)