COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News Weekend Update 22nd /23rd January 2022

UK Daily Statistics:
Cases: 15,859,288 (+74,799)
Losses of Life: 153,862 (+75)
Tests: 1,370,093
Vaccinations 1st Dose: 52,223,105 (90.8% of UK aged 12+)
Vaccinations 2nd Dose: 48,158,421 (83.7%)
Boosted / 3rd Dose: 36,890,079 (64.1%)

Rep. Of Ireland: 1,145,968 (+4,731) cases and 6,087 losses of life.

World: 350,713,601 reported cases and 5,612,098 losses of life.

"I'm no different to thousands of other New Zealanders who have had much more devastating impacts felt by the pandemic, the most gutting of which is the inability to be with a loved one sometimes when they are gravely ill. That will far outstrip any sadness I experience."
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, after cancelling her own wedding due to an Omicron outbreak in New Zealand.

The UK ONS figures estimate that there were around half a million new cases each day in the UK over Christmas. 

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News Update 20th / 21st January 2022

UK Daily Statistics:
Cases: 15,709,059 (+95,787)
In Hospital Yesterday Thursday 20th Jan: 17,976
Using A Ventilator Yesterday: 664
Losses of Life: 153,490 (+228)
Tests: 1,370,093
Vaccinations 1st Dose: 52,186,398 (90.7% of UK age 12+)
Vaccinations 2nd Dose: 48,082,636 (83.6%)
Boosted/3rd Dose: 36,753,644 (63.9%)

Rep. Of Ireland: 1,127,951 cases and 6,087 losses of life (not yet reported today)

World: 344,445,133 reported cases and 5,596,969 losses of life.

"It should be the last nail in the coffin because this is a country that has had one of the worst COVID death rates and one of the poorest economic performances in the developed world.
In a way it's ironic that what seems to be bringing down the Prime Minister is the Downing Street party rather than the record of bad Government over the last year and a half."
Former Tory MP Rory Stewart

"Omg. It's still Winter. That's a bit risky. Shouldn't we have waited to see if levels continue to drop? This gives the illusion everything is fine. The NHS is still under great pressure. Etc etc"
(Collated scientific response to Boris' announcements about the end of all Plan B restrictions.) 

I don't get as much time as I'd like to review children's books nowadays, but today I am very happy to bring you 4 self-published illustrated story books for younger children. Full of pictures and ideal to read together, or for beginner readers to practise reading alone...

COVID UK Briefing with Sajid 19th January 2022

UK Cases: +108,069
UK Losses of Life: +359

"You have sat there too long for all the good you have done.
In the name of God, go."
Senior MP and former Conservative Party Chairman David Davies - who explained he was 'tired of defending Johnson against angry constituents'. Boris has not yet gone anywhere, and doesn't seem keen to leave without a fight.

A quick COVID update today because of Boris'/Sajid's announcements - and before I go into that, a couple of points to remember...

1. As I was reminded by Tina - Reinfections across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland are STILL NOT COUNTED as a new COVID case, so daily numbers are going down, but because so many people are being reinfected by Omicron Variant, we have less of an idea how many people are really testing positive. (Some estimates are that at least 15% of cases are reinfections, I'd say among the people I know of, it's far FAR more than that.)
In Wales if you test positive more than 42 days after you previously had COVID, it is counted as a new case, but nowhere else in the UK.
Well done Wales for honesty - and well done on finding yet another way to fudge the numbers for the rest of the UK. 

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News Update 17th / 18th January 2022

UK Daily Statistics:
Cases: 15,399,300 (+94,432)
In Hospital Yesterday 17th Jan: 19,450 (Slightly DOWN from 19,828 seven days earlier)
Using A Ventilator Yesterday 17th Jan: 713 (Well DOWN from 820 seven days earlier - Omicron and being vaccinated really does avoid the pneumonia seen previously throughout the pandemic)
Losses of Life: 152,513 (+438 - this is really high, but is partly due to some under-reporting over the last 3 days)
Tests: 1,363,401
Vaccinations 1st Dose: 52,133,611 (90.7% of UK aged 12+)
Vaccinations 2nd Dose: 47,989,635 (83.4%)
Boosted: 36,546,583 (63.6%)

Rep. Of Ireland: 1,109,818 cases and 6,035 losses of life (not yet reported today).

World: 332,512,878 reported cases and 5,567,166 losses of life.

“I can’t believe we would have gone ahead with an event that people said was against the rules … nobody warned me it was against the rules, I am categorical about that – I would have remembered that.”
Boris Johnson, UK Prime Minister and grown adult man who is claiming he wasn't able to understand the rules on gatherings during lockdown that he actually decided himself - and repeated aloud in public many times. Give me strength...

Just to clear up any confusion:
"You can meet one other person outdoors and you must socially distance" WAS ALLOWED.
"You can invite 100 people to a 'bring a bottle' party" WAS NOT ALLOWED. 

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News Weekend Update 15th and 16th January 2022

UK Daily Statistics - Today's cases and vaccinations don't include figures from Scotland, which are delayed.
Cases: 15,217,280 (+70,924)
Losses of Life: 151,987 (+88)
Tests: 1,413,468
Vaccinations 1st Dose: 52,097,840 (90.6% of UK age 12+)
Vaccinations 2nd Dose: 47,905,885 (83.3%)
Boosted / 3rd Dose: 36,388,391 (63.3%)

Rep. Of Ireland: 1,103,489 (+10,753) cases and 6,035 losses of life.

World: 327,600,926 reported cases and 5,556,066 losses of life.

There have been yet more revelations about Westminster partying during English lockdowns, aside from a list of special events, there were also weekly "wine time Fridays". (It sounds like a great place to work...)
Any excuses or reasoning along the lines of "We all bent the rules a bit" can now be filed directly in the bin. They really, really took the pee.
Some Tory party people have resigned, some have held their heads in their hands, some have wondered why they never got invited to all the shindigs.

January is usually the hardest month, so let's get straight to it. How is your mental health? It's dark, dismal, Christmas is over and we have every reason for this January to be especially hard because of ruddy COVID.

The pandemic been going on for literally years now, and it is wreaking havoc across the UK (and entire Northern hemisphere / world). We are stressed, tired, and led by people who laugh in the face of their own restrictions. In the UK we are going for it, attempting to get through this wave without any restrictions, and hurtling towards "learning to live with the virus" at breakneck speed... Even though half the people on the bus don't even realise that's where they're going, we are already in the air as the bus attempts to leap the canyon. 

Crikey it's stressful - and we all know we won't all get off the bus unscathed. We didn't even get on it unscathed. We are scratched and bruised and none of us will ever forget this time. It can be hard to remember that it will end. It can be hard to see we will reach our goal, we will win against a virus. Hard to see that this is still temporary. 

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News Update 12th, 13th and 14th January 2022

UK Daily Statistics:
Cases: 15,066,395 (+99,652 - which is well down on last week's 178,250. Hurrah!)
In Hospital Yesterday Thursday 13th January: 19,539 (up from 18,454 a week earlier - so although it's still rising, it's definitely slowing).
Using A Ventilator Yesterday: 777
Losses of Life: 151,612 (+270)
Tests: 1,413,468
Vaccinations 1st Dose: 52,051,876 (90.5% of UK aged 12+)
Vaccinations 2nd Dose: 47,836,785 (83.2%)
Boosted: 36,191,724 (62.9%)

Rep. Of Ireland: 1,061,116 cases and 6,035 losses of life.

World: 321,737,292 reported cases and 5,542,202 losses of life.

"It’s deeply regrettable that this took place at a time of national mourning and number 10 has apologised to the palace.”
Prime Minister's spokesperson.
(Bit late that love, and sadly lacking...)

Boris Johnson has admitted to (and apologised for) going to the first revealed Downing Street party at his house, which he presumably had a hand in authorising, and possibly organising.
He says he had no idea it was a party. 40-50 people turning up at the same time and carrying alcohol just didn't give it away. What, were you expecting cards and presents? Pin the tail on the donkey? Pass the parcel?
A hard zero for observation and extrapolation there Boris... and only a 3 for lying (like a 7 year old).
Boris claims the oops-was-that-a-party was arranged to thank staff for their hard work  - which just indicates the sad state of employment in the UK, as they had to bring their own booze to their own thank you party. 

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News Update 10th / 11th January 2022

UK Daily Statistics:
Cases: 14,732,594 (+120,821)
(I would suggest we use caution before celebrating too much. Yes, it does seem London at least has peaked, but we are still at the limits of testing capacity, and see below for a change in reporting...)
In Hospital Yesterday Monday 10th January: 19,828 (UP from 14,126 on Friday 31st December)
Using A Ventilator 10th January: 820 (DOWN from 883 on 31st Dec - Omicron really doesn't cause as much pneumonia as other variants!)
Losses of Life: 150,609 (+379)
Up until Friday 31st December, 174,233 people had COVID listed as a cause on their death certificate.
Tests: 1,617,386
Vaccinations 1st Dose: 51,992,559 (90.4% of UK aged 12+)
Vaccinations 2nd Dose: 47,745,458 (83%)
Boosted / 3rd Dose: 35,813,659 (62.3%)

Rep. Of Ireland: 1,002,013 cases and 5,952 losses of life (not yet reported today)

World: 311,771,577 reported cases and 5,515,927 losses of life.

"Nobody needs an official to tell them if they were at a boozy shindig in their own garden. People are (rightly) furious. They sacrificed so much - visiting sick or grieving relatives, funerals. What tf were any of these people thinking?"
An actual swear there from the frustrated and annoyed Former Head of the Scottish Conservative Party, Ruth Davidson. 

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News Weekend Update 8th and 9th January 2022

UK Daily Statistics:
Cases: 14,475,192 (+141,472)
Losses of Life: 150,154 (+97)
Tests: 1,820,674
Vaccinations 1st Dose: 51,950,528 (90.3% of UK aged 12+)
Vaccinations 2nd Dose: 47,677,951 (82.9%)
Boosted: 35,499,486 (61.7%)

Rep. Of Ireland: 978,104 (+21,384) cases and 5,952 losses of life.

World: 306,696,347 reported cases and 5,504,438 losses of life.

Over 150,000 people from the UK have now OFFICIALLY lost their lives within 28 days of first testing positive to COVID. Boris made a statement, it's in the images below. (If you use a reader and need a transcript, just ask - I didn't have time before tonight's report).

“Wales is following the same path of putting protections in place that is being followed by Scotland, Northern Ireland, and not just devolved governments in the UK, but governments across Europe and across the world.
The questions as to why the UK Government has decided not to follow that course of action are for them to answer, not for me.
I think they have not done what the science would have told them they should do.
But that’s decisions for them to answer for – I’m answerable for the decisions we take here in Wales.”
Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford has complained that Boris and the UK Government are ignoring the science, which in turn is making it really difficult for Wales to have different restrictions (that are actually very similar to the entirety of the Northern hemisphere except England). The public are confused - both Welsh people and English visitors. 

From 11 January in England, if you get a positive lateral flow test result:
- you will no longer need to take a follow-up PCR test
- you should still self-isolate immediately
This is a temporary measure while COVID19 cases remain high.