COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News Update 28th / 29th March 2022

UK Daily Statistics:
Cases last 7 days: 574,027 (average 82,003 per day)
In hospital yesterday 28th March: 19,118 (UP from 16,272 a week earlier)
Using a ventilator yesterday 28th March: 363 (UP from 299 a week earlier)
Losses of life last 7 days: 1,051 (average 150 a day, UP from 119 average a week earlier)
Tests: 4,952,823 (average 707,546 per day)
Vaccinations 1st dose: 91.8% of UK age 12+
Vaccinations 2nd dose: 85.9%
Boosted / 3rd dose: 67.4%

Rep. Of Ireland: 1,442,877 (+5,263) cases and 6,721 (+11) losses of life.

World: 484,179,897 reported cases and 6,153,536 losses of life.

For 2 years many publications removed paywalls for anything regarding the pandemic, and made their reporting and articles free to read and open access to all. Some of those paywalls and limits on access to information are returning. Sad times guys, but at least we got the 2 years.

Good news regarding UK hospital admissions. I say good, I actually mean bad, but much better than it was. We have been seeing a huge increase week on week, but it has slowed down considerably. Whoot!
The COVID Actuaries Response Group keep track and tell us over the past 7 days:
"Strongest growth is currently being seen in ventilator beds, and the total beds figure has risen by over 1,300 to 15,170"
Overall it seems fairly obvious more people get symptoms with Omicron, but less are severely ill, so the rise in ventilator beds and ICU admissions is a bit of a bugger. It could be due to immunity in our most vulnerable people beginning to wane already - which makes getting those Spring Booster Jabs even more important. 

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News Weekend Update 26th / 27th March 2022

There Are No Longer UK Daily Statistics At Weekends

World: 481,648,252 reported cases and 6,147,422 losses of life

Abuse of scientists is running high because of frustrations around COVID:
"Science (Magazine) asked 9585 researchers who have published on COVID-19 to fill out an online survey about their experiences. Of 510 who responded, 38% reported at least one type of attack, ranging from insults to death threats, delivered on social media, by email or phone, or sometimes even in person."

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News Update 23rd / 24th / 25th March 2022

UK Daily Statistics:
Cases last 7 days: 599,244 (average 85,606 per day, up from 78,885 a week earlier)
In hospital yesterday Thursday 24th: 17,440 (up from 14,671 a week earlier)
Using a ventilator on Wednesday 23rd: 302
Losses of life last 7 days: 950 (average 136 per day)
Total losses of life: 164,454
Tests last 7 days: 5,098,534
Vaccinations 1st dose: 91.7% of UK aged 12+
Vaccinations 2nd dose: 85.8%
Boosted / 3rd dose: 67.3%

Rep. Of Ireland: 1,422,945 (+9,147) cases and 6,710 (+17) losses of life.

World: 478,839,027 reported cases and 6,136,057 losses of life.

"We all want to move on from the pandemic. But no matter how much we wish it away, this pandemic is not over."
Dr Tedros, Head of WHO

Wednesday was a National Day Of Reflection, in memory of all those lost over the 2 years since the UK first went into lockdown because of COVID. I didn't know about it in advance, so I didn't mention it - and I apologise to anyone who wishes they had known.
End of life charity Marie Curie has created online Walls Of Remembrance where you can leave a dedication to those you loved who have fallen victim to COVID. 

Last October we were invited over to take a good look around People's History Museum in Manchester, but then my 11 and 13 year old boys caught COVID and our plan was put on pause. This February half term we jumped on the tram into Manchester for a day looking at the history of the people who helped make our world what it is today. 

People's History Museum is really easy to get to, just a short walk from a couple of different tram stops, right in the centre of Manchester. 

It is a challenging museum. It asks you to think about what you see. I like that, and my children have been raised to question, so I'm stunned I haven't ever taken them before. I think life just got in the way for us, so this visit was definitely overdue... 

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News Update 21st / 22nd March 2022

UK Daily Statistics:
Cases last 7 days: 592,459 (average 84,637 per day)
In hospital  yesterday 21st March: 16,272 (UP SIGNIFICANTLY by 2,724 from 13,548 a week earlier. Our COVID+ in-patients are almost an extra 400 people each day)
Using a ventilator: 299 (UP by 19 from 280 a week earlier)
Losses of life last 7 days: 836 (average 119 a day, up from 102 daily average a week earlier)
Tests last 7 days: 5,118,487 (average 731,212 per day)
Vaccinations 1st dose: 91.7% of UK aged 12+
Vaccinations 2nd dose: 85.8%
Boosted / 3rd dose: 67.2%

Rep. Of Ireland: 1,390,177 (+4,024) cases and 6,664 (+26) losses of life.

World: 473,272,998 reported cases and 6,107,861 losses of life.

Most COVID restrictions in Scotland have now ended - with the exception of masks in indoor public places, which should still be worn for at least the next couple of weeks. Now that COVID is all over and we're "learning to live with it", you might be surprised to discover that yesterday Scotland had a record breaking 2,128 patients in hospital with COVID, beating the previous record figure of 2,053 recorded on 22nd January 2021.
How can this be? Well, the simple truth is that COVID didn't get the memo that it was all over and the economy wanted to reopen, and has continued just doing its own thing...

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News Weekend Update 19th / 20th March 2022

No UK daily statistics at weekends. .

World: 470,427,307 reported cases and 6,099,458 losses of life.

Scientists in Europe have now identified 2 different Delta/Omicron 'Deltacron' hybrid or 'recombinant' variants, and another variant which is a mix of the 2 different BA.1 and BA.2 Omicron Variants. None are considered to be any extra cause for concern - they don't seem to have, and shouldn't have, any special features - and we already know what Delta and Omicron are like.
They occur when a single person catches both at once, and the 2 viruses both enter a single cell at the same time. It's a rare thing, but when we have 3 million people in the UK catching COVID each week, rare things happen more often. 

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News Update 16th / 17th / 18th March 2022

Today's stats error is.... "Reported case numbers for Scotland cover more than 24 hours" (Irrelevant as we are given a 7 day average).

UK Daily Statistics:
Cases last 7 days: 552,198 (average 78,885 per day, UP a lot from 59,117 a week earlier)
In hospital yesterday 17th March: 14,671 (UP a lot from 11,944 a week earlier)
Using a ventilator yesterday: 292 (UP from 253 a week earlier)
Losses of life last 7 days: 753 (average 107 per day, similar to 104 a week earlier)
Tests last 7 days: 4,997,040 (average 713,862 per day, UP from 650,544 a week earlier, despite less tests being distributed)
Vaccinations 1st dose: 91.7% of UK aged 12+
Vaccinations 2nd dose: 85.7%
Boosted / 3rd dose: 67.1%

Rep. Of Ireland: 1,365,467 cases and 6,638 losses of life (not yet reported today).

World: 467,256,593 reported cases and 6,090,530 losses of life.

"The Peace Bell in Mariupol.
It rings no more.
Until the evil is defeated."
Illia Ponomarenko, Ukrainian journalist at the Kyiv Independent.
His home town is Volnovakha, which has been razed to the ground. Every building has been damaged, including his family home and the maternity hospital where he was born.
His university in Mariupol and everywhere he made his student memories has been destroyed. 90% of the buildings in Mariupol are estimated to have been damaged or destroyed.
His new flat, which he moved into 1 month ago in Bucha, has been destroyed.
He is left in Kyiv, wondering how long he has left there, and where to go next.
This is a young man who will never forget, and how can he ever forgive?
No-one wins a war, and it continues long after it ends.

ASDA asked if we wanted to take a look at some of their personalised photo gifts, so I set my children the challenge to make me something nice - and they haven't disappointed me! They chose a Mother's day card, a mug and a large canvas... 

A good measure of how easy a website is to use, is to send a 13 year old to try it, and clearly ASDA's website is easy enough, because I received no complaints.

The teenager did have assistance from his older brother, and direction from his other siblings, but I am told he designed the card entirely by himself... including 5 photos of himself - 3 of them photoshopped into love hearts. Winning the prize for getting into my good books there... 

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News Update 14th / 15th March 2022

UK Daily Statistics are a mess today again.
"No update to hospital data in England"
"Newly-reported cases, deaths, tests and vaccinations for Scotland cover several days"

Cases last 7 days: 492,103 (rising average 70,300 per day)
In hospital yesterday 14th March: 13,548 (UP by 2,230 from 11,318 a week earlier, which is an extra 318 a day, and they appear to be saying that's incomplete)
Using a ventilator yesterday 14th March: 280 (up slightly on 268 a week earlier)
Losses of life last 7 days: 714 (steady average of 102 per day)
Tests: 4,799,199 over last 7 days (dropping average 685,599 per day)
Vaccinations 1st dose: 91.7% of UK aged 12+
Vaccinations 2nd dose: 85.6%
Boosted / 3rd dose: 67%

Rep. Of Ireland: 1,353,733 cases and 6,624 losses of life (not yet reported today)

World: 460,953,747 reported cases and 6,069,945 losses of life.

“In the name of God, let the cries of those who suffer be heard and let the bombings and attacks cease! Let there be a real and decisive focus on negotiation, and let the humanitarian corridors be effective and safe. In the name of God, I ask you: stop this massacre!”
The Pope

"There are hundreds of thousands of people in Ukraine in need of emergency assistance.
Supplying hospitals with medical equipment is also an urgent priority.
I appeal for passages to be open and kept safe so that people can get lifesaving aid and escape to safety."
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres

It's the 15th, and it's the 3rd month, so that must be the date all Caesars hate - the Ides Of March. Crikey the world is a mess right now. A month ago we didn't realise where we would be, and it's certainly not what most of us would have chosen. 

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has wiped COVID from the front pages of the news, but it really has only heaped sadness and stress on top of any which existed beforehand. We really do need some smiles, and every single one is worth it's weight in gold, because they are hard won just now. 

The storm is a long way from ending. It can feel helpless, pointless, overwhelming. Remember to take a break if you can. Walk away. Read a book, watch a film, meditate, have a kitchen disco. Immerse yourself in a bubble for a while. Sadly it will still all be there when you return, but you'll be stronger and more able to cope. Never lose hope. Just like every other before it, this time too will pass.