The Brick Castle: COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News update 29th March

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News update 29th March

The UK added 2,433 cases today and now has reported a total of 19,522 positive cases of COVID-19. We had in total tested 127,737 people as of 9am this morning.

As of 5pm yesterday, of those hospitalised in the UK, we have lost another 209 people to COVID-19. We now sadly have a total of 1,228 losses of life.

Total cases are: England 16,486, Scotland 1,384, Wales 1,241 and Northern Ireland 410. Already 135 of the UK's positive testing cases have recovered.

Rep. Of Ireland have 2,415 cases and 36 losses of life (not yet reported).

There have now been 702,368 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is now 33,180. Already 149,219 people have recovered.

Today's unlucky dip press conference podium-sweater was the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Robert Jenrick. Luckily for him he had the only remaining UK COVID-19 lead with him, Dr Jenny Harries, Deputy Chief Medical Officer.

To be honest there wasn't a lot of real information at today's press conference and most of the press questions were ones that don't have an answer.
We simply can't give an accurate mortality rate because we really aren't sure how many people get no symptoms or are at home with mild symptoms. That's not just the UK, it's the whole world. Lowest estimates are under 1% and are very plausible. Mortality rate is far higher as soon as medical services are overwhelmed, because so many people just need some oxygen.
We can't say when any lockdown will end because we don't know yet how long cases will keep increasing. For at least as long as the NHS are at full pelt we need to stop feeding new victims to the virus, and we will stay under restrictions.

Some very sad news today as Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has confirmed that a baby under 12 months old has died from coronavirus.

A Chinese study (not yet peer reviewed) published in Paediatrics this month looked at 2,143 children with proven or suspected COVID-19.
731 had 'significant symptoms' and 21 became very Ill with the severe form of the disease. 1 boy aged 14 lost his life. "Over 90% of all patients were asymptomatic, mild, or moderate cases".
Previous Chinese data studying 71,000 cases found no child under 10 years old succumbed.

Epidemiologist and government advisor Neil Fergusson has said in The Times that the UK may eventually remain in full lockdown until June, to avoid the worst effects of COVID-19.
Some people in the worst affected parts of Wuhan in China have been under lockdown for just over 2 months, other areas have not been so harsh on their residents and still managed to get COVID-19 under control. It is very much dependent on the people themselves and their behaviour, as well as the severity of the infection in that specific area.

According to government projections the peak of the UK crisis is expected during the week of April 12.

Canadians with symptoms are no longer allowed on domestic flights or trains.

Mexico have asked citizens to stay home for one month.

Notice how the governments all start by asking nicely, and then they have to stamp down harder and harder? Be prepared for stronger measures. Ideally any country will tighten and loosen restrictions back and forth over a period of time, to allow normality to come back as much as possible, but reigning us in whenever we are in danger of medical services becoming overwhelmed. If your hospital has no staff, equipment or beds, you cannot get care for any reason. Don't run on the stairs.

France are evacuating patients from overwhelmed areas by high speed TVG trains.

Poland's ruling party are insistent on holding elections in May despite the obvious dangers to voters. The opposition have called for a boycott.

Actor and legend James McAvoy has donated £275,000 to a crowdfunding campaign set up to purchase PPE for NHS staff. There's a global shortage and the NHS should never have to crowdfund anything, but this means our order is in.

For a second yesterday Donald Trump seemed to be considering quarantining as an option:
"We're thinking about certain things. Some people would like to see New York quarantined because it's a hotspot. ... We might not have to do it, but there's a possibility that sometime today we'll do a quarantine, short-term, two weeks on New York. Probably New Jersey, certain parts of Connecticut,"
Just do it you mass-murdering moron - do it quickly and make it at least 3 weeks or you are wasting your time.

The Thai government have cut off access to Phuket by land or sea.

Norway are following Iceland's example by beginning random coronavirus tests.

Indonesia are considering quarantine. They have the world's 4th largest population - 273m people.

A cat may have caught coronavirus from it's owner. A university in Liege, Belgium has confirmed the cat has coronavirus, which has made it ill. Vets are warning not to get too excited because cats often carry benign coronavirus, and we don't know for sure that this coronavirus is even COVID-19. If it is, and the previous cat also genuinely had it, then it is clearly an incredibly rare event.

Luxury Cruise Good News:
The Zaandam cruise shop has been allowed passage through the Panama Canal. 130 people on board are ill, 2 have tested positive and 4 have already succumbed. They are trying to head to home port Fort Lauderdale as no other country will accept them.

Donald Trump has issued a "strong Travel Advisory" to New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Residents are asked to "to refrain from non-essential travel for the next 14 days."
Please can someone explain exponential growth to Mr Trump.

Body Coach Joe Wicks is a bit stunned by how many of your kids are following his You Tube sessions every morning. He's also a blooming nice guy. He said:
“So I’ve decided that as long as I’m the nations P.E. teacher, every single penny of the money generated on these videos is going to the place where we need it the most right now. All of it is going straight to the NHS, to support the real heroes right now."

Ghana’s president Nana Akufo-Addo has a clear message on COVID-19 and money. The world should listen:
"We know how to bring the economy back to life. What we do not know is how to bring people back to life.”

Ghana’s president Nana Akufo-Addo COVID 19 We can't bring people back to life, we can bring back the economy.

A US Navy hospital ship has set off towards dock at New York.

Famous People With COVID-19:
Nigerian Chief Medical Director, University College Hospital, Prof. Jesse Otegbayo.

Lost Their Fight:
NHS Surgeon and A&E volunteer Adil El Tayar
French Politician Patrick Devedjian

We should all get a letter from Boris next week. It explains that we are meant to be under a lockdown, and playing out is actually banned just now or you will be actively killing more people.
"We know things will get worse before they get better. But we are making the right preparations, and the more we all follow the rules, the fewer lives will be lost and the sooner life can return to normal. ...That is why, at this moment of national emergency, I urge you, please, to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.”

Donald Trump has invoked the Defense Production Act to compel General Motors to build ventilators for hospitals.

At one nursing home in Washington State, 34 of 81 infected residents have died.

In a fascinating interview in Science Magazine, George Gao, head of China's CDC was asked what's the biggest mistake other countries are making?
"The big mistake in the U.S. and Europe, in my opinion, is that people aren’t wearing masks. This virus is transmitted by droplets and close contact. Droplets play a very important role—you’ve got to wear a mask, because when you speak, there are always droplets coming out of your mouth. Many people have asymptomatic or presymptomatic infections. If they are wearing face masks, it can prevent droplets that carry the virus from escaping and infecting others."
Advice is still to leave masks for those who need them most while we have a shortage.

Keeping an eye on your mental health is vitally important right now. We will all see the numbers rise and the NHS and temporary hospitals fill up before it starts to get better. We will all learn that people we care about are infected and ill. Don't forget this isn't forever, it will pass. We are all saving lives by social and physical distancing, and not adding another layer of spread on top of what we already have. You are actively doing your bit.
Public Health England have published guidance on how to look after your mental health and that of others. (Links in sources below. )

Some numbers. Every number here struggled the first time they had to tie laces.

Country / Cases / Losses of life

USA 131,403 (+7,825) 2,329 (+108)
Italy 97,689 (+5,217) 10,779 (+756)
China 81,439 (+45) 3,300 (+5)
Spain 78,799 (+5,564) 6,606 (+624)
Germany 60,659 (+2,964) 482 (+49)
Iran 38,309 (+2,901) 2,640 (+123)
France 37,575 2,314 (not yet reported)
UK 19,522 (+2,433) 1,228 (+209)
Switzerland 14,829 (+753) 300 (+36)
Netherlands 10,866 (+1,104) 771 (+132)
Belgium 10,836 (+1,702) 431 (+78)
S. Korea 9,583 (+105) 152 (+8)
Turkey 9,217 (+1,815) 131 (+23)
Canada 5,886 (+231) 63 (+3)
Norway 4,239 (+224) 25 (+2)
Australia 3,980 (+345) 16 (+2)
Denmark 2,395 (+194) 72 (+7)
Chile 2,139 (+230) 7 (+1)
Vietnam 188 (+14)
Oman 167 (+15)
Libya 8 (+5)