COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News update 26/27 August 2020.

The UK added 1,522 cases today (highest figure since June 9th) and now has reported a total of 330,368 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 186,500 tests yesterday. 767 people were in hospital on Tuesday 25th, with 64 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 41,477 officially reported losses of life in all settings, within 28 days of a positive test..

Rep. Of Ireland 28,363 cases and 1,777 losses of life. (Not yet reported today.) 

There have now been a total of 24,477,849 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 832,462. Already 16,976,141 people have recovered.

Scotland did indeed on Tuesday make face coverings compulsory for senior school pupils aged 11+, for transport,  corridors and communal areas where social distancing isn't possible, as did Northern Ireland. 

A couple of hours after I posted on Tuesday,  Boris announced that England are also following the new World Health Organisation advice, and English school pupils and staff IN AREAS WITH EXTRA RESTRICTIONS will have to wear masks, and they will be optional (as opposed to not allowed) anywhere else. This only applies to higher/secondary pupils age 11+, and doesn't apply during most classes, but whenever distancing isn't possible  - when moving through corridors, on the school bus etc. the same as Scotland. 
Personally, my son insisted on a mask to look around his new high school, so he's much happier with this ruling. We live in North Manchester, we are already under extra restrictions and cases have still gone up in our area for the last 3 weeks - the science definitely supports it. I worry for the future mental health of anyone who feels they could have passed on COVID to someone who later dies or suffers long term. It isn't their fault, and putting a child in that position is especially cruel.  

Local Authorities and individual schools will make decisions on whether students in Wales will wear masks. 

 COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News update 24/25 August 2020.

"The COVID-19 dashboard is currently experiencing technical difficulties" So some data is missing... 

1,184 new positive cases have been recorded on Tuesday 25 August, giving a total of 327,798.

16 new deaths have been reported across the UK, giving a total loss of life of 41,449 people within 28 days of a positive COVID test.

Rep. Of Ireland 28,116 cases and 1,777 losses of life. (Not yet reported today.)

There have now been a total of 23,918,261 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 819,430. Already 16,443,235 people have recovered.

The majority of Northern Ireland's children went back to school yesterday, and with case numbers creeping upwards, although levelling off hopefully, it wasn't with as much confidence as they'd like. Best of luck to you guys. 

Press are full of the fact that care home residents and some disabled people in the UK were placed under blanket DNR (do not resuscitate) orders heading towards the height of our peak. This isn't new news, and lists such as this always exist for use in extreme emergency situations, but blanket choices about who gets treatment, in the event that hospitals became overwhelmed, are in many cases morally reprehensible. I understand why they did it, to prevent hospital staff and doctors having to make those decisions on the spot, but it wasn't well done. As soon as it became public, people with decades of potentially healthy, productive and quality life left began campaigning for changes, on the basis they personally shouldn't be on that list. Amendments have been made. The list no doubt will always exist. 

Jenny Harries was on Sky telly yesterday talking about school reopening. She was very clear:
"Overall the risk to the child themselves is very, very small."
Phew, that's all right then. Thank heavens we don't allow any adults into schools, eh.
She suggested that risk of your child catching seasonal flu or dying in a road traffic accident is "probably higher" than the current risk of COVID19.
I agree. Right now, that is probably true for most UK areas - fingers crossed we stay that way, and if that balance swings, your local authority should act.

Boris released his latest video on Monday, and that was about school re-opening too:
"It's absolutely vital that pupils get back into school in September. It's vital for their education. It's vital for their welfare. It's vital for their physical and, indeed, their mental wellbeing. So let's make sure that all kids, all pupils, get back to school at the beginning of September.
So I think parents are genuinely still a bit worried about their... their children contracting coronavirus, and all I can say is the risks are very, very, very small that they'll even get it, but the risk that they'll errr, suffer from it badly are very, very, very, very, very small indeed."
He goes on to mention that most schools have been open and staff have been working all along (nice of him to notice), safety and availability of transport to school, and the "huge collective act of will that we've all shown to get this disease down".
I've just saved you 3 minutes better spent (very - to the power of 5). Science so far is on his side - unless numbers go up too much, then it swings. 

 COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News weekend update 22/23 August 2020.

The UK added 1,041 cases today and now has reported a total of 325,642 positive cases of COVID-19. Tests completed has not been updated since Thursday. 834 people were in hospital on Thursday 20th (DOWN 96 since a week earlier), with 72 using a ventilator on Friday 21st (DOWN 1 since a week earlier). 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we lost another 6 people who have tested positive to COVID-19 within 28 days of their positive test. We now very sadly have an official total of 41,429 losses of life in all settings.

England 281,457 / 36,786
Northern Ireland 6,647 / 559
Scotland 19,811 / 2,492
Wales 17,727 / 1,592

Rep. Of Ireland 27,969 (+61) cases and 1,777 losses of life.

There have now been a total of 23,470,124 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 810,253. Already 15,991,612 people have recovered.

"No country can just ride this out until we have a COVID19 vaccine.
A vaccine will be a vital tool, and we hope that we will have one as soon as possible.
But there’s no guarantee that we will, and even if we do have a vaccine, it won’t end the pandemic on its own."
Dr Tedros, head of the WHO. 

The UK government have extended the ban on evictions by 4 more weeks, and imposed a 6 month notice period - so renters can't be evicted until March 2021. There will be a lot of people feel the pressure suddenly lift at that news, and no doubt some landlords won't be so happy.  

Some of the European countries which had really suppressed COVID-19 are seeing outbreaks and rising numbers. On Saturday Italy reported over 1,000 new daily cases for the first time since 12th May. We knew this was likely, and it shouldn't let us lose hope, but we are beginning to see just how long it may take to be rid of COVID-19. Maybe all of the technology in the world can't make a disease outbreak any shorter than it was ever going to be, but we can at least keep the number of people we lose right down. 

Professor Chris Whitty has released a statement about children and schools. He says that the government has to balance risks, but getting children back to in-person learning is clearly their key priority.
"The risk of a child coming to significant long term harm from COVID solely due to school is very low. The risk of harm to many children if they don't go to school is high."
While as a blanket statement I totally agree, I'd add the caveat that this simply isn't going to be the truth for every child, or in every location UK-wide at all times. Remember everyone who becomes ill costs their local authority money and time, so they will have every reason to close schools at very short notice whenever they see necessary.  

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

The UK added 1,033 cases today and now has reported a total of 323,313 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 190,434 tests yesterday. 841 people were in hospital on Wednesday 19th, with 76 using a ventilator on Thursday 20th. 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we lost another 2 people who have tested positive to COVID-19 within 28 days. We now very sadly have an official total of 41,405 losses of life in all settings.

(I'll be honest, although a far better measure than 'ever tested positive', actually a significant number of people spend 4 or more weeks in hospital if they become incredibly ill with COVID, so I await the 'within 60 days of a test', which they've promised.)

Rep. Of Ireland 27,755 (+79) cases and 1,776 losses of life. 

There have now been a total of 23,008,899 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 799,627. Already 15,627,244 people have recovered.

"Hardship is always an opportunity to learn, to grow and to change. COVID19 is a once-in-a-century health crisis. But it also gives us a once-in-a-century opportunity to shape the world our children will inherit" Dr Tedros, WHO. 

Currently in England we have additional measures in many places, including, but not limited to:
- A ban on indoor gatherings of more than 2 households across parts of Lancashire, Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire
- A ban on gatherings in private gardens or homes across parts of Lancashire, Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire (except for support bubbles).
- Oldham, Blackburn and parts of Pendle have additional measures preventing inessential use of public transport, and from midnight on Saturday, local residents in these 3 areas should not socialise with anyone from outside their household. No restaurant walk-ins, pre-book only. Weddings and funerals limited to maximum 20 people.
- Birmingham added to this week’s watch list as an ‘area of enhanced support’, with increased testing
- Slough added as an ‘area of concern’
- Northampton becomes an ‘area of intervention’. All employees of the Greencore Factory (where 300 people have tested positive) and their households will be required to isolate at home for 2 weeks. The factory will close voluntarily from today for 2 weeks.
- The rules on social gatherings introduced 3 weeks ago will be lifted in Wigan, Rossendale and some areas of Blackburn with Darwen, and these areas will align with the rest of England from Wednesday 26 August.
-  Bedford is being removed from extra restrictions following a drop in cases

 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...