COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News Update 5th January 2021.

Note that today and tomorrow figures contain some extras because of the bank holiday weekend. Scotland for example has not reported losses of life since the end of December. These people all need to be counted, every one, but it won't give a truly accurate image until about Thursday. 

The UK added 60,916 cases today and now has reported a total of 2,774,479 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 464,611 tests yesterday. 

NHS figures show we had 26,467 people in hospital in England yesterday, with 2,378 using a ventilator.   

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we officially reported the loss of another 830 people who have tested positive to COVID-19 within 28 days. We now very sadly have a total of 76,305 officially reported losses of life in all settings.

Rep. Of Ireland 107,997 cases and 2,265 losses of life. (Not yet reported today.) 

There have now been a total of 86,490,966 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 1,869,188. Already 61,269,766 people have recovered.

A big soft, warm hug for every parent and carer who had a hard job this morning to explain to a child that school was closed again after 1 day. I know my own children would have struggled with that had they been in school yesterday. And a hug for every child who doesn't enjoy school at home.

Boris did another UK briefing today, this time at 5pm, and with genuine scientists beside him. The big guns - Chris "my eyes, my eyes" Whitty and Patrick "I can blink any time I want" Vallance.

COVID UK News and Briefing with Boris 4th January 2021

Stay at home.... 

Boris pre-recorded an address to the UK, which was shown this evening. 

He says that the restrictions would have worked against the old variant of the virus, but the new UK variant is frustrating, and all the science suggests it is between 50-70% more transmissible. "You are much, much more likely to catch the virus and pass it on."

As he speaks tonight, hospitals are under more pressure than at any other time. In England alone, the number pf patients has increased by nearly 1/3 in the last week, to almost 27,000. This is 40% higher than at the height of the first peak in April. 

On 29th December, over 80,000 people tested positive across the UK. The losses of life is up by 20% over the last week, and will sadly continue to rise, (as we have more and more people in hospital). 

Most of the country is already under extreme measures, but it's clear we need to do more to bring it under control while the vaccine is rolled out. 

In England we will have a national lockdown "tough enough to contain this variant".

- From midnight in England STAY AT HOME. You may only leave home for limited reasons permitted in law: shopping for essentials / medical assistance / exercise / "to work if you absolutely cannot work from home" and to escape domestic abuse. (All details will be on the gov dot uk website.)

- If you are clinically extremely vulnerable, you need to start shielding (you'll get a letter)

- Education moves to remote provision from tomorrow. Primary, secondary and colleges - except for vulnerable children and the children of key workers.

- EVERYONE will still be able to access EARLY YEARS provision, such as nurseries.

- Next Summer's exams may not be possible or fair. The Education Secretary will work with OfQual to put in place alternative arrangements.

- We will provide extra support to ensure free school meals will still be available while schools are closed.

- More devices will be distributed to support remote education. 

Personally, as someone who loves long dresses, I can't find fault in this guest post. A long dress can instantly make you feel 'dressed up', whilst hiding a multitude of bumps and lumps. It's been a little while since I went on a date though... 

Nothing beats the feeling of butterflies in your stomach in the days and hours leading up to a date, but many women put themselves under enormous pressure to find the right outfit, often disproportionately so!

As a result, this often ends up in panic-buying, where you end up with a dress that doesn’t suit you at all – and which you may even not like! – and the date starts off with you in a bundle of nerves, rather than cool, calm, collected and ready to enjoy yourself.

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News Update 3rd January 2021.

The UK added 54,990 cases today and now has reported a total of 2,654,779 positive cases of COVID-19. 

People in hospital in the whole UK hasn't been updated since 23,823 six days ago.
NHS England figures state that on 2nd December 24,957 people were in hospital with COVID (up from 19,277 a week earlier), with 2,181 people using a ventilator (up from 1,996 a week earlier). 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we officially reported the loss of another 454 people who have tested positive to COVID-19 within 28 days. We now very sadly have a total of 75,024 officially reported losses of life in all settings.

Rep. Of Ireland 101,887 (+4,961) cases and 2,259 (+7) losses of life.

There have now been a total of 85,237,889 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 1,847,668. Already 60,282,568 people have recovered.

After all of the news over the past week, today started off a lot quieter - although I'm quite frustrated Gavin Williamson, the Education Secretary, hasn't done a UK Briefing to explain his reasoning behind school reopening, and maybe even gave it a shot at reassuring the UK public. You might find it easier if you read this post safely locked in your own home, and pretend you don't live in the UK...

"It may be that we need to do things in the next few weeks that will be tougher in many parts of the country. I’m fully reconciled to that."
UK PM and persistent ditherer, Boris Johnson, this morning.
The next few weeks Boris? Helloooooooo. Surprise, there's a pandemic. Remember that?
Boris, the next few days is too long. I'm sorry you didn't get a Christmas break, but you took the job. Act. NOW. Before the NHS collapses. The world is staring at us with their jaws on the floor. 

 COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News Update 1st / 2nd January 2021.

The UK added 57,725 cases today (up from 30,501 on 27th December) and now has reported a total of 2,599,789 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 420,492 tests yesterday. 

23,823 people were in hospital on Monday 28th December (up from 20,917 a week earlier), with 1,847 using a ventilator (up from 1,529 six days earlier). 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we officially reported the loss of another 445 people who have tested positive to COVID-19 within 28 days. We now very sadly have a total of 74,570 officially reported losses of life in all settings. (We haven't been getting all of the data over the Christmas and New Year period. Bear in mind numbers will bounce a little until around next Wednesday.)

Rep. Of Ireland 96,926 (+3,394) cases and 2,252 (+4) losses of life.

There have now been a total of 84,649,345 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 1,839,554. Already 59,838,067 people have recovered.

Happy new year! 

Well, it will be eventually. Let's hold that thought. 

So the new UK variant is causing a headache. It is transmitting quickly. Very quickly. Any areas without large numbers of new variant cases are likely to see it explode there too without pretty harsh measures. During lockdown while the regular cases stayed low and controlled, and in many areas showed a fall, the new variant grew. It spread fast amongst students and children, and is most common in teenagers. 

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News Update New Year's Eve, 31st December 2020.

The UK added 55,892 cases today and now has reported a total of 2,488,780 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 420,492 tests yesterday. 

23,813 people were in hospital on Monday 28th (up from 20,917 a week earlier), with 1,847 using a ventilator (up from 1,529 a week earlier).. 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we officially reported the loss of another 964 people who have tested positive to COVID-19 within 28 days. We now very sadly have a total of 73,512 officially reported losses of life in all settings. Up until Friday 18th December, 82,624 people in the UK had COVID written on their death certificate. 

Rep. Of Ireland 90,157 cases and 2,226 losses of life. (Not yet reported today.) 

There have now been a total of 83,476,768 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 1,819,871. Already 59,111,145 people have recovered.

On 31st December 2019, Wuhan Municipal Health Commission, China, reported a cluster of cases of pneumonia in Wuhan, Hubei Province. Rumours and videos were already circulating, although official Western media was really disinterested, and over here we were mostly relying on Chinese or Taiwanese Journalists who were kind enough to translate. (At one point I could recognise several place names in Chinese. I have now deleted that skill.)

It is the end of a very long and hard year that we could never have seen coming or prepared for. We've all shown an ability to adapt and to cope which we wouldn't have thought possible a year ago. Allow yourself a smile, because we got this far, so we know we can get through the next few months until vaccines and antibody cocktails begin to really make their impact. 

There is some news today and some of it isn't great, as really you would have to expect. Some of it is better news. It's never all bad. 

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News Update and UK Briefing 30th December 2020.

Bad news, good news today, and the inevitable UK Briefing with Bozza. It really is a tale of two halves, and they're about as opposing as you can get, so please don't forget the good bits. We WILL get there. 

The UK added 50,023 new cases today and reported another 981 people have succumbed to COVID. Yes, that includes some backlog from Christmas, but these people have still tested positive, or been lost. I am sorry to every person who has lost someone they care for, including those of you among my own friends. This will touch everyone. 

The awesome news: The AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine has received approval from the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency), so vaccinations can begin as soon as they can be arranged. 

The bad news: Case numbers are high (1 in every 70 people in the UK had COVID just before Christmas), hospitalisations dangerously so. Some Londoners have received text messages urging them to call 111 unless life is in immediate danger, because the system is really stretched. Matt Hancock has announced that from midnight tonight 23 more areas of the UK will move into Tier 4 restrictions - STAY AT HOME WHEN POSSIBLE. This affects over 20m people. Some other areas will also change Tiers upwards. 

From 1 minute past midnight TONIGHT: 

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News Update 29th December 2020.

The UK added 53,135 new cases today and now has reported a total of 2,382,865 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 357,238 tests yesterday. 

People in hospital with COVID on the UK Government dashboard hasn't been updated since 22,286 on 22nd December.
PHE reported 20,426 yesterday in England alone, up from 15,053 a fortnight earlier. 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we officially reported the loss of another 414 people who have tested positive to COVID-19 within 28 days. We now very sadly have a total of 71,567 officially reported losses of life in all settings. 

Rep. Of Ireland 86,894 cases and 2,205 losses of life. (Not yet reported today.) 

There have now been a total of 81,994,887 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 1,787,952. Already 58,039,145 people have recovered.

Yes. Whatever words you exclaimed when you saw 53,000 new UK cases today, I agree. Totally. I wish I could offer some comfort, but the UK reported 41,000 new cases yesterday. Although there will be some Christmas 'catch up', it doesn't cover it. We knew this was coming. Straighten your skirt, look straight ahead, deep breath, and let's keep going. We can do this.

The UK now has more people hospitalised due to COVID than during the first peak in Spring 2020. The hospital situation in London is under pressure and getting an increasing amount of press this afternoon, as hospital staff speak out. They are shattered and demoralised, and they have already been asked to take on extra shifts to cover workload over Christmas and New Year. 

An Oxford Paramedic has appeared on Sky News this afternoon stating that 'Ambulances are queuing outside of hospitals, patients are being cared for in the ambulances and there are patients out in the community that don't get an ambulance response because there's simply none left to send.' 
There have been mention of triage tents being set up temporarily outside some hospitals. 

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News Christmas Update 27th December 2020.

The UK added 30,501 cases today and now has reported a total of 2,288,345 positive cases of COVID-19.  

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we officially reported the loss of another 316 people who have tested positive to COVID-19 within 28 days. We now very sadly have a total of 70,752 officially reported losses of life in all settings.

Rep. Of Ireland 85,394 cases and 2,200 losses of life. (Not yet reported today.) 

There have now been a total of 80,927,778 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 1,768,880. Already 57,117,746 people have recovered.

Since I last reported Mexico, Italy, Germany and some other countries have started immunisations. The Queen did a new video and told us 'life has to go on'. Trump has warned staff who didn't support his voter fraud claim "I won't forget ". The US has imposed mandatory COVID testing for arrivals from the UK. Several countries have now reported odd cases of the UK COVID strain and /or the South African strain, and a little thing called BREXIT finally got a deal. Most of the world has had a holiday though, and chance to take a breath. 

Medics, nurses, care staff, buildings and cleaning staff are among those who didn't get a day off. Thank you all for keeping it going in our absence. 

Even though most of us couldn't spend Christmas in-person with all of our loved ones, I hope yours was fun and funny and made you laugh and smile. I hope you could grab everything you have and give it a little sparkle, even if it was partly over zoom... 

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News Update and UK Briefing 23rd December 2020.

The UK added 39,237 cases today. 

20,917 people were in hospital on Monday 21st, with 1,529 using a ventilator yesterday, 22nd December. 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we officially reported the loss of another 744 people who have tested positive to COVID-19 within 28 days, bringing the total to 69,051 officially reported losses of life in all settings.

There have now been a total of 78,692,150 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 1,730,347. Already 55,354,162 people have recovered.

Very bad news today as some more of the UK will move to Tier 4 restrictions from Boxing Day. Also special instructions for visitors to/from South Africa. 

The lorry driver thing has come to an agreement - yeeeay. Last night France agreed to let limited traffic through, including long distance hauliers:
"Planes, boats and Eurostar trains will resume service as of tomorrow morning. French nationals, people living in France and those with a legitimate reason will have to be carrying a negative test" - French Minister Delegate for Transport, Jean-Baptiste Djebbari.
He had a big thank you too, for Grant Shapps, the UK Transport Minister. He must have done something right. Well done Grant.
The Army arrived to help with testing this morning, but the bad news is that it's going to take days to clear the backlog completely - everything would have been fully booked. Get those people tested!! Get them home for Christmas... 

Bizarrely some papers are reporting this as "Macron caves in after being ordered to open the border"... errr. Wow. Not exactly, no. The European Commission has now said no country should impose a blanket ban on the UK, but France had never shown any wish to keep it closed, they were just rightfully getting some back up on what the heck to do. 

Lorry drivers need a negative PCR swab test or a LAMP / lateral flow test result which is effective in spotting the new UK Strain. With some tests 1 of the 3 areas currently looked for is missing in the new UK variant, so you'll get more false negatives.
That's a perfect example of sod's law.