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

The UK added 1,182 cases today and now has reported a total of 322,280 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 190,434 tests yesterday. 867 people were in hospital on Tuesday 18th, down 85 from Tuesday last week. 70 patients were using a ventilator yesterday, down 10 from Wednesday last week. 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we lost another 6 people who have tested positive to COVID-19 within 28 days. We now very sadly have an official total of 41,403 losses of life in all settings.

Rep. Of Ireland 27,547 cases and 1,775 losses of life. (Not yet reported today.) 

There have now been a total of 22,728,247 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have officially lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 793,810. Already 15,407,162 people have recovered.

GCSE results were released today, and students got either moderated grades or teacher assessment, whichever was higher. MUCH fairer. Remember if you didn't get the grades you hoped for, there are still a million different paths open to you. 

BTEC students' results were announced as delayed late last night. Hopefully they will have spotted the teeny weeny disaster which has already occurred with several hundred thousand Scottish and A level students, and won't repeat it (we can but hope). I have my fingers crossed for all of you. 

Excitingly some Gmail and other Google services temporarily broke worldwide this morning, meaning many students waiting for exam results had to either turn up in person or wait it out. So mean! 

The UK Government have a threshold of 20 cases per 100,000 of the population in order that any country be excluded from our quarantine regulations and added to the travel corridor list. Austria, Trinidad & Tobago and Croatia have gone over the 20 cases (Croatia registered 27.4 cases per 100,000 this week) and they will be removed from the 'safe' travel corridor list at 4am on Saturday morning (22nd August). Portugal will be added to the list at that time, so good news for anyone with a Lisbon trip booked...

 COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News update 17/18 August 2020.

The UK added 1,089 cases today and now has reported a total of 320,286 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 169,276 tests yesterday. 896 people were in hospital on Sunday 16th, with 73 people using a ventilator yesterday. 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we lost another 12 people who have tested positive to COVID-19 within 28 days. We now very sadly have a total of 41,381 officially reported losses of life in all settings.

Rep. Of Ireland 27,313 cases and 1,774 losses of life. (Not yet reported today.) 

There have now been a total of 22,153,380 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 779,677. Already 14,881,168 people have recovered.

The latest ONS (Office for National Statistics) report shows that for the 8th consecutive week, the number of people who died in England and Wales was slightly below the 5 year average. Coronavirus stole months and weeks from many people who were already ill, elderly or vulnerable.
"Looking at the year-to-date (using the most up-to-date data we have available), the number of deaths up to 7 August was 389,008, which is 52,737 more than the five-year average. Of the deaths registered by 7 August, 51,879 mentioned COVID-19 on the death certificate, 13.3% of all deaths in England and Wales."
Worryingly, the number of people who are losing their lives at home is still far higher than the average - you aren't going to hospital quickly enough! - especially women and people over 70. If you have a medical emergency, please ring 999 as you usually would.
"The year-to-date analysis shows that, of deaths involving the coronavirus (COVID-19) up to Week 32 (week ending 7 August 2020), 63.4% (32,906 deaths) occurred in hospital, with the remainder occurring in care homes (15,375 deaths), private homes (2,443 deaths), hospices (738 deaths), other communal establishments (220 deaths) and elsewhere (197 deaths)."

English and Welsh A Level results gave us a frantic few days there. First it was algorithms deciding your future, then confirmation they can be appealed based on mock results, and on Monday afternoon an apology and an acceptance of public opinion:
"We understand this has been a distressing time for students, who were awarded exam results last week for exams they never took. The pandemic has created circumstances no one could have ever imagined or wished for. We want to now take steps to remove as much stress and uncertainty for young people as possible - and to free up heads and teachers to work towards the important task of getting all schools open in two weeks.
After reflection, we have decided that the best way to do this is to award grades on the basis of what teachers submitted. The switch to centre assessment grades will apply to both AS and A levels and to the GCSE results which students will receive later this week."
(There is reliable word that they are about to make the same announcement for BTech and vocational students, if they haven't already.)
This won't help many students who have already been told they've lost their place at uni, but would now qualify. I'm so sorry for any young person, wherever you live or whichever educational establishment you went to, who is a victim of this debacle. 

GCSE Results in Northern Ireland: "After consulting CCEA & having listened to the concerns of principals, teachers, parents & young people, I have decided that all GCSE students on Thursday will now receive the grades submitted by their school." Common sense from Peter Weir, NI Minister for Education. Wales have followed suit. 

 COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News Weekend Update 15/16th August 2020.

The UK added 1,040 cases today and now has reported a total of 318,414 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 182,987 tests yesterday. 930 people were in hospital on Thursday 13th, with 73 using a ventilator on Friday 14th. 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we lost another 5 people who have tested positive to COVID-19 within 28 days. We now very sadly have a total of 41,366 losses of life in all settings.

Rep. Of Ireland 27,257 (+66) cases and 1,774 losses of life.

There have now been a total of 21,722,688 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 770,948. Already 14,463,224 people have recovered.

The Sunday Torygraph are exclusively reporting that Public Health England will be scrapped and replaced, as soon as next month. Matt Hancock is planning to merge all things COVID-related from PHE with NHS Test and Trace, to create the National Institute for Health Protection. Obviously until the government officially announce it to us, rather than drip feed information to their preferred press, probably best to mark it 'likely'.

 COVID-19 has filled my life for the past 7 months. I'm not even sure how much time normal people spend thinking about it, what experience most people have, because I'm so involved in grabbing new information and reporting it. It's my special interest, and I'd be fascinated anyway, so writing about it was a natural reaction. 

In fact, I'm at relative peace with the whole COVID thing. So much so that a reader of my COVID posts, and also a friend, asked if she could send me a personalised bracelet  (£1 from every sale goes to MIND) because she had the perfect word for me. She chose CALM. I suppose I am. Mostly*. 

I've always been well aware we are just animals living on a bit of rock, and as powerful as we think we are, nature will always be bigger than all of us. I guess that helps, but it's the fact we are pre-disastered that probably really makes the difference.  

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

The UK added 1,441 cases today (this is high, and partly due to Northampton, see below) and now has reported a total of 316,367 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 169,857 tests yesterday. 925 people were in hospital on Wednesday 12th, with 75 using a ventilator yesterday (this is thankfully going back down after a little rise). 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we reported the loss of another 11 people within 28 days of a positive COVID test. We now very sadly have an official confirmed total of 41,358 losses of life in all settings.

Rep. Of Ireland 26,995 (+66) cases and 1,774 losses of life.

There have now been a total of 21,183,445 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 759,524. Already 13,990,158 people have recovered.

Big sorry to anyone currently in France and hoping to go back to on-site work next week. France has been added to the UK's 14 day quarantine list. The same applies to anyone in The Netherlands, Malta, Turks and Caicos, or Aruba. (Actually I'm so not sorry if you are in Aruba. Come on, it's well worth it.) This is going to cause absolute havoc over the next few hours, but you had to be aware it was always your own risk. You have to return by 4am Saturday morning to escape the restriction. I can't imagine it'll be much fun at French airports or ports tonight... 

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News update 12 / 13 August 2020.

"The data for deaths in England have been updated to include deaths within 28 days of the first laboratory-confirmed test. The 60–day measure will be added to the dashboard in due course." UK Gov.
(As a result of website faffing, information today is late and incomplete.)

The UK officially added 1,009 cases today and now has reported a total of 313,798 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 116,311 tests yesterday. 952 people were in hospital on Tuesday 11th, with 80 patients using a ventilator yesterday. 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we reported the loss of 18 people with 28 days of a positive COVID test result. We now very sadly have a total of 41,347 losses of life in all settings within 28 days of their test.

Rep. Of Ireland 26,929 (+91) cases and 1,774 losses of life.

There have now been a total of 20,949,851 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 750,014. Already 13,806,485 people have recovered.

Welsh, Northern Irish and English A Level students have their results - I hope yours were as you hoped. After the disaster in Scotland earned an apology and the right to take teacher assessed grades or moderated grades, in a late night move on Tuesday, Gavin Williamson announced a "triple lock" for English students. Students can accept moderated teacher assessed grades, mock exam results or retake in Autumn. You also have the right to appeal.... 

Remember school grades only measure a tiny part of who you are. When academic results seem a disaster, it can very often send you heading off in a different direction that suits you better anyway. This year has been an especially hard one, even if you didn't pass your exams, you definitely aren't a failure. 

I'm sent a lot of books for review, and I'm ridiculously behind with Young Fiction because, as you may have seen, the Coronavirus is taking up my time. I took a break today and had a look at 3 recent releases which are ideal for reading together, or for children aged around 6+ to read alone. 

The 3 fully illustrated picture story books are all self-published and sent to me by Matador for review - and they are all really good, with bold illustrations, modern style and lots to talk about... 

There's No Place Like... Written by Greta Mitchell and Illustrated by Alice Haskell.

This is a lovely little tale about a big robot which space-loving youngsters might recognise. The Curiosity Rover is sent on a mission to Mars. He is lonely out there and although he is busy doing science, he really wants to find the Opportunity Rover, so that he has a friend.

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News update 10 / 11 August 2020.

Message on the UK Govt. site - "Owing to technical difficulties, the data will not be updated until 12 August 2020", but they have now released some figures - Losses of life +102 total 46,628. Cases +1,148 total 312,789

The UK added 816 cases yesterday, so the total of confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 stands at 311,641. 1,067 people were in hospital last Thursday 6th, with 67 using a ventilator on Friday 7th August. 

Yesterday we reported the loss of another 21 people who have tested positive to COVID-19. We now very sadly have an official total of 46,526 UK losses of life in all settings. 

Rep. Of Ireland 26,801 (+33) cases and 1,773 (+1) losses of life.

There have now been a total of 20,382,146 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 741,689. Already 13,280,375 people have recovered.

"There are two essential elements to addressing the #COVID19 pandemic effectively: Leaders must step up to take action and citizens need to embrace new measures." Dr Tedros, WHO. 

ONS figures released today show the number of people with COVID listed as a cause on the death certificate, in England and Wales only, from the beginning of the year until the end of July, was 51,710. Of these, 49,122 people were lost in England, and 2,513 in Wales. 

Nicola Sturgeon has apologised about Scottish student's exam results, saying the government "did not get this right". Teacher assessments for students in the poorest areas were over twice as likely to be downgraded by moderators, than students in the wealthiest areas.
They announced this afternoon that original teacher assessments will stand. Well done to everyone who NOW has the result they worked so hard for. 

 COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News update 8th /9th August 2020.

The UK added 1,062 cases today and now has reported a total of 310,825 positive cases of COVID-19. That is the highest daily total since June 26th. 

We completed 165,176 tests yesterday. 1,067 people were in hospital on Thursday 6th, with 67 using a ventilator on Friday 7th.

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we reported the loss of another 8 people who have tested positive to COVID-19. We now very sadly have a total of 46,574 losses of life in all settings.

England 268,312 / 41,948
Northern Ireland - Not given today (I don't think it's sinister, I think it's just a day off.)
Scotland 18,998 / 2,491
Wales 17,451 / 1,579

Rep. Of Ireland 26,712 (+68) cases and 1,772 losses of life.

There have now been a total of 19,919,745 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 731,727. Already 12,801,438 people have recovered.

The African continent has now reported over 1 million cases
The United States of America has now reported over 5 million cases.
Brazil has now reported that over 100,000 people have succumbed to COVID
By tonight there will be over 20 million cases of COVID reported worldwide.
Almost 13 million people have been reported as recovered.  

Even now, after almost 8 months, COVID has not managed to infiltrate the entire globe. Okay, at least 2 of these countries and territories are maybe not entirely truthful, but I believe most of them when they officially say they have never had a single case:  Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, North Korea, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. 

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News update 7th August 2020.

The UK added 871 cases today and now has reported a total of 309,005 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 185,980 tests yesterday. 1,101 people were in hospital on Wednesday 5th, with 69 using a ventilator.

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we announced the loss of another 98 people who have tested positive to COVID-19. Please bear in mind that they often add historical data on a Friday, so 50 of these people at least succumbed earlier this year. We now very sadly have a total of 46,511 officially reported losses of life in all settings.

England 266,645 / 41,886

Northern Ireland 6,064 / 556

Scotland 18,890 / 2,491

Wales 17,406 / 1,578

Rep. Of Ireland 26,372 cases and 1,768 losses of life. (Not yet reported today.) 

There have now been a total of 19,395,730 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 720,242. Already 12,453,855 people have recovered.

World Mask Week starts today. I've no idea who thought that one up, but it does mean there will be lots of promotions and possibly discounts etc. It's a rare one this - most of the world is actually required to wear masks or face coverings by law, so it's a genuine world event - even if most people won't realise it's happening. 

As part of #WorldMaskWeek, the World Health Organisation have launched the #WearAMask challenge - which seems to basically involve posting a photo of yourself in a mask. Obviously the cooler the better. So for today, if you make or sell face coverings, or if you bought an especially awesome one - feel free to drop a photo (and a link to your etsy or other online shop) in the comments below the post on my Facebook page. 

The UK Government have made it clear they aren't happy with people wearing face visors, or masks with valves (including N95 type), and you shouldn't wear surgical grade masks as that causes shortages for medical and care staff.