It's been just over a year since the first cases of COVID emerged, and yet we already seem to have been under restrictions for about 4 years. Being at home doesn't mean the end of all entertainment - lots of folks have moved online, and lots have been working online for years, but you might not have noticed.... 

Here are a host of people who are still entertaining us, teaching us and putting on events - and anyone can join in, whatever the weather, wherever you are.... 

UK News and COVID Briefing 10th February 2021

Cases: 3,985,161 (+13,013)
Losses of life: 114,851 (+1,001)
In hospital: 26,684 (on 8th Feb)
Using a ventilator: 3,164 (on 9th Feb)
First dose vaccine: 13,058,298
Second dose vaccine: 519,553

ALL passenger arrivals to Scotland HAVE TO quarantine in hotels. You don't need to quarantine if arriving from "the Common Travel Area (CTA) a long-standing arrangement between the UK, the Crown Dependencies (Bailiwick of Jersey, Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Isle of Man) and Ireland").
The penalties will be equally harsh to the whole UK penalties if anyone tries to cheat this, including by arriving in England and travelling overland to Scotland.
We are reminded that even aside from the international travel, it's actually not legal for you to travel within the UK right now unless you have good reason. 

Lambeth is the latest area which has surge testing after discovery of a new person with South African variant.
Even if your area doesn't have surge testing, over 70% of councils (more than 230 local authorities) are now offering rapid testing for anyone with symptoms or not - and it has caught over 44,000 cases so far. 

The pesky E484K mutation is the one which helps COVID escape the vaccines and antibodies (only around half the time) in the South African and Brazilian variants. The UK's very own B177 variant has now managed to mutate in this way in Bristol, with at least 14 cases found so far. We really don't want to encourage this mutation, which is why surge and door-to-door testing is happening whenever we find it. You lucky people of Bristol now have your own "Variant of Concern" or VOC - the Bristol Variant.
Another mutation of the B117 variant in Liverpool is still a Variant Under Investigation, or VUI. 

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News Update 8th / 9th February 2021.

The UK added 12,364 cases today and now has reported a total of 3,972,148 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 616,718 tests yesterday. We have carried out over 75 million tests in total. 

The counter says 12,646,486 people had been given at least one dose of a vaccine in the UK by midnight last night. 516,392 people were fully vaccinated (2 doses). 

26,723 people were in hospital on Sunday 7th, with 3,230 using a ventilator yesterday, 8th February. 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we officially reported the loss of another 1,052 people who have tested positive to COVID-19 within 28 days, making a total of 113,850 losses of life in all settings.

The Office for National Statistics record deaths with COVID listed as a cause.  Up until Friday 29th January this included 121,674 people. 

Nation / Cases /Losses of life
Wales 197,021 / 6,674
Scotland 187,542 / 8,343
Northern Ireland 107,438 / 2,447
England 3,480,147 / 104,165

Rep. Of Ireland 204,397 cases and 3,687 losses of life. (Not yet reported today.) 

There have now been a total of 107,198,328 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 2,342,375. Already 79,032,605 people have recovered.

There were a lot of concerns regarding BAME people in the UK being fairly vaccinated, because we didn't seem to be catching a very high percentage of them. As we've added people aged 70-80, the gap has thankfully shrunk. It appears the very oldest people in BAME groups may be missing out because of problems accessing healthcare - a problem that needs to be addressed, and now it's visible,  hopefully it can be. 

UK Coronavirus Briefing 8th Feb

Cases: 3,959,784 (+14,104)
Losses of life: 112,798 (+333)
In hospital: 29,326
Using a ventilator: 3,505
First dose vaccination: 12,294,006
Second dose vaccination: 512,581

Clearly there was going to be a UK briefing today, and this is a big part of why:
South Africa have suspended their rollout of the Oxford/ AstraZeneca vaccine, after the new trial data from University of the Witwatersrand suggested it only reduced mild-to-moderate COVID-19 by just 22%, because of the mutations in the South African variant.
That's a real blow, other data was around the 50% 'usefulness benchmark' for reducing severe disease, hospitalisation and death against the South African variant. With a much younger average population age than the UK (SA 25 /UK  40), and a younger expected lifespan (SA 64 / UK 81) South Africa's priorities are slightly different.
UK Health Minister Edward Argar (who?) said on the telly box this morning that 147 cases of the South African variant had so far been discovered in the UK. This is with extensive local testing and actual contact tracing taking place for all known cases. 

UK Government Ministers are themselves in a frenzy trying to keep us calm and confident in the Oxford/ AstraZeneca vaccine. Bless em, all kinds of Junior Ministers you've never heard of are scrabbling around for airtime. Popcorn anyone? 

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News Weekend Update 6th /7th February 2021.

The UK added 15,845 cases today and now has reported a total of 3,945,680 positive cases of COVID-19. 

The counter says 12,014,288 people had been given at least one dose of a vaccine in the UK by midnight last night. 511,447 people had received both doses and are fully vaccinated. 

29,326 people were in hospital on Thursday 4th, with 3,505 using a ventilator on Friday 5th February. 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we officially reported the loss of another 373 people who have tested positive to COVID-19 within 28 days, making a total of 112,465 losses of life in all settings.

Rep. Of Ireland 203,568 (+1,020) cases and 3,686 (+12) losses of life.

There have now been a total of 106,515,969 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 2,323,940. Already 78,183,869 people have recovered.

EE will help any UK child who is struggling to access or cannot access education, by giving them or their grown up unlimited data until July. You can access this through their teachers, so get in touch with school. Teachers can find out more by searching EE Lockdown Learning. 

UK Vaccines Minister Nahdim Zahawi has said on telly this morning that he is confident we have enough vaccines, and are vaccinating quickly enough, to meet both the Mid-February target for the first 3 priority groups, and the 'end of May' target for the first 9 priority groups - basically healthcare frontline, vulnerable and everyone over 50.
Ideally we would then go on immediately to vaccinate everyone else - but we do have a moral and humanitarian obligation to help ensure the world's healthcare workers and most vulnerable people are protected - so it's likely the UK supply of vaccines may hit a pause at this point. 

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

The UK added 19,114 cases today and now has reported a total of 3,911,573 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 783,851 tests yesterday. 

The counter says 10,971,047 people had been given at least one dose of a vaccine in the UK by midnight last night. 505,993 have been fully vaccinated (2 doses).

30,508 people were in hospital on Wednesday 3rd (down from 35,375 the same time last week), with 2,847 using a ventilator yesterday, 4th February (down considerably from 3,918 a week earlier). 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we officially reported the loss of another 1,014 people who have tested positive to COVID-19 within 28 days, making a total of 111,264 losses of life in all settings.

Rep. Of Ireland 201,763 (+1,019) cases and 3,621 (+35) losses of life. 

There have now been a total of 105,668,451 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 2,301,054. Already 77,320,509 people have recovered.

I told you yesterday that German vaccine manufacturer CureVac were working on 'next generation' COVID vaccines. They are still going through phase 3 mass human trials of their first generation COVID vaccine, and can tweak their recipe the same way flu vaccines are tweaked. Clearly trials must be going okay, and the UK is clearly now at risk of those more resilient E484K mutations spreading, and is attempting to future-proof our vaccine stock. Today they announced we have bought into CureVac and are hoping to manufacture it in the UK - if necessary:
"...the UK has placed an initial order for 50 million doses of new vaccines to be delivered later this year if they are required".

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News Update 3rd / 4th February 2021.

The UK added 20,634 cases today and now has reported a total of 3,892,459 positive cases of COVID-19.
We completed 801,949 tests yesterday.

10,490,487 people had been given at least one dose of a vaccine in the UK by midnight last night.
501,957 people have received 2 doses and are fully vaccinated.

31,670 people were in hospital on Tuesday 2nd, with 3,625 using a ventilator yesterday, 3rd February.

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we officially reported the loss of another 915 people who have tested positive to COVID-19 within 28 days, making a total of 110,250 losses of life in all settings.

UK Nation / Cases / Losses of life / Losses per 100,000 population
Wales 194,525 / 6,313 / 200.2
Scotland 183,418 / 7,899 / 144.6
Northern Ireland 105,637 / 2,310 / 122
England 3,408,879 / 96,102 / 170.7

Rep. Of Ireland 199,430 cases and 3,512 losses of life. (Not yet reported today.)

There have now been a total of 105,140,552 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 2,284,417. Already 76,854,309 people have recovered.

For reference:
- COVID 19 - standard COVID
- UK/Kent COVID variant 'B117' - catchier, may be slightly more deadly, small resistance to vaccines/antibodies. Widespread throughout the UK and found in around 40 countries already.
- South African variant B135.1 - very much like UK variant plus mutation E484K, which gives a chunk more resistance to vaccines/antibodies
- Mutated UK/Kent COVID variant - UK variant plus E484K, so incredibly similar to the South African variant.
- Brazilian variant P1 - we still know very little in reality. Looks in a lab very much like the South African variant, with bonus potential for evil.

UK Coronavirus Briefing 3rd Feb 2021

Cases: 3,871,825 (+19,202)
Loss of life: 109,335 (+1,322)
In hospital: 32,851 (1st Feb)
Using a ventilator: 3,638 (2nd Feb)
1st Dose Vaccine: 10,021,471
Fully vaccinated: 498,962

We've vaccinated over 10m people (whoot!), with 1 dose (ahhh). It is really impressive, far beyond the rest of Europe.

Scotland have said that some of their youngest children will begin a phased return to school after the half term break. 

Boris started by talking about Captain Sir Tom Moore.
He says the NHS were the right choice for Sir Tom to support. In order to get the vaccines into the arms of people in the UK, we need the support of masses of people, but in the end, it is the NHS we need.
We have now vaccinated over 10m people across the UK, including offering jabs to every eligible care home, and vaccinating almost 90% of the people aged 75% in England. 

New research out today supports other data and looks good. The vaccine kicks in by around 3 weeks, and lasts well through to 3 months when people have their 2nd jab.
Excitingly the data suggests that among vaccinated populations transmission to others really seems reduced by quite a high amount - possibly up to 2/3 less. 

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

The UK added 16,840 cases today and now has reported a total of 3,852,623 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 643,204 tests yesterday. 

The counter says 9,646,715 people had been given at least one dose of a vaccine in the UK by midnight last night, with 496,796 fully vaccinated (2 doses). 

32,466 people were in hospital on Sunday 31st Jan, with 3,726 using a ventilator yesterday, 1st February. 

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we officially reported the loss of another 1,449 people who have tested positive to COVID-19 within 28 days, making a total of 108,013 losses of life in all settings.

ONS report that up until 22nd January, 112,660 people had COVID as a cause on their death certificate. 

Rep. Of Ireland 198,424 (+871) cases and 3,418 (+101) losses of life.

There have now been a total of 104,158,113 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 2,255,156. Already 75,971,288 people have recovered.

Scotland's lockdown will be extended:
"Lockdown restrictions have been extended following this week's review.
Current lockdown measures will stay in place across mainland Scotland and some island communities until at least the end of February."

You know how we didn't really want mutations on top of mutations? And that could be a not very good thing? I have some bad news... 

UK Briefing 1st Feb 2021 (and some UK background news).
Cases 3,835,783 (+18,607)
Losses of Life 106,564 (+406)
In hospital 34,783 (28th Jan)
Using a ventilator 3,832 (29th Jan)

11 people in the UK with no known travel links have tested positive for the South African variant. This is similar to the UK's more transmissible variant, but may possibly be more resistant to vaccines, so we don't really want it to spread any further while we check that one out. It affects 8 postcode areas:
W7, N17 and CR4 in London
WS2 in Walsall
ME15 in Kent
EN10 in Hertfordshire
GU21 in Surrey and
PR9 in Lancashire.
Local residents will be offered door-to-door testing whether they have symptoms or not, and some proper contact tracing is underway.
Matt Hancock has expressed an urge to eradicate this from the UK asap (and everyone else in the world agrees). 

We have started vaccinating, and mixing together COVID and vaccinations means only the really resilient and robust virus survives - the mutations that came out slightly different, but it turned out to be a biological advantage (like redheads making some of their own vitamin D). The South African variant looks IN A LAB like it might be up to 30-50% more resilient to some of the vaccines and antibodies people have, but without sequencing (basically a virus 'DNA test', except with virus it's 'RNA') to see exactly what happens, no-one can be certain exactly what occurs in the real world. The number of cases in the UK is currently still too huge to sequence every case - although we are legitimately world beating at this. We can do about 6% (and that'll rise as case numbers get smaller).