COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News update 10th June 2020.
The UK added 1,003 cases today and now has reported a total of 290,143 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 170,379 tests yesterday.
In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we lost another 245 people who have tested positive to COVID-19. We now very sadly have a total of 41,128 losses of life in all settings.
England 155,714 / 36,750
Northern Ireland 4,818 / 537
Scotland 15,665 / 2,422
Wales 14,518 / 1,419
Rep. Of Ireland 25,231 cases and 1,696 losses of life.
There have now been a total of 7,389,282 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 415,819. Already 3,643,469 people have recovered.
"The idea that there is some option that's completely safe and it's all fine is clearly not true, and I don't believe that anyone listening to (reading) this thinks that's an option..."
"...There are no risk free options available to us."
Chris Whitty.
Today scientists worldwide take a break for #blacklivesmatter and #shutdownSTEM, to reflect and take action on systemic inequalities in science. In support I've not included any scientific studies in today's report. (Unless you count economics as a social science.)
For today's UK briefing Boris Johnson himself turned up, so I knew it must be a good one. It was hosted by Prof Chris Whitty, England's Chief Medical Officer and Sir Patrick Vallance, UK Science Chief.
Boris started by saying 'we're following the science' and then told us how we're meeting the '5 tests' for reducing lockdown.
We have 492 people using a ventilator, is that more than last week? because he randomly compared it to 2 weeks ago. Luckily I had that slide saved, but sadly it said 9% in use, which isn't easily comparable. The UK last I knew had around 5,900 ventilators. (9% of that is 531.)
We have PPE sorted - including 2.2 billion items which will be manufactured in the UK. We don't actually have them in hand yet.
We are ready to reduce restrictions in England (he says). It's up to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to reduce theirs when they feel it's right.
1. ALL shops can reopen from Monday 15th June - physical distancing and other guidelines must be followed.
2. From this weekend single adult households can form a Support Bubble with 1 other household. You will be able to mix indoors or out as if you are 1 household. DO NOT switch Support Bubbles!! ONE Support Bubble only. If ANY OF YOU get symptoms, you all isolate for 14 days like any ordinary household group. It applies ONLY to SINGLE ADULT HOUSEHOLDS, and I'm so sorry, but shielded people, this is not for you. If you are a single parent with children under 18, it does apply to you.
"This is a targetted intervention to limit the most harmful effects of the restrictions."
Shielding people, there will be news for you next week about changes coming in July.
3. Outdoor attractions have a lower risk of infection. From Monday 15th June outdoor attractions can reopen, including Zoos, safari parks and drive-in cinemas - this is fantastic news for many who were worried about costs and not sure they could survive the next month, including Chester Zoo. Yet again proof that the government do listen to public questions at the briefings.
4. Places of worship can open for individual prayer from this weekend.
5. We are not proceeding with plans to bring back more pupils before the Summer holidays, right now we are hoping to bring them all back in September. There will be some 'catch up' over the Summer months, more news next week.
It's actually a really good package and very sensible, although I'd rather shop staff and shoppers were encouraged to wear masks - but that's just me and it is always your own choice.
Paddy tells us that the R in the whole UK is below 1, between 0.7-0.9 (tsk tsk, we know full well it's very low in Scotland and N.Ireland, and it's really quite cheeky including them and using an average).
He explained number of cases is super important, and it is easier to get an accurate measurement on a regional level (you could start by using single countries!).
Between 17th-30th May, an estimated 53,000 people had COVID-19 in England. The estimate is 39,000 new cases a week. 6.78% of people randomly tested had COVID antibodies.
Public asked why food and drink vendors aren't wearing masks and gloves? Boris, Paddy and Chris all blathered and referred them to the govt. website. Have some balls one of you! Just say "hmmm, yes, actually, now you mention it, that does seem wise". Honestly. I give in today.
Boris today referred to contact tracing as "whack-a-mole with new cases". If that helps you understand then great.
The World Health Organisation have backtracked on Maria Van Kerkhove's comment that 'asymptomatic transmission is very rare', saying it was misleading.
The confusion was caused partly over asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic - up to 40% of COVID19 is transmitted by people with no symptoms - but it's regularly in the 2 or 3 days before symptoms develop, which seems to be when people are at their most infectious. (That's why isolating contacts of known cases is so incredibly important.)
Brazil's Health Ministry have restored all COVID-19 data after a supreme court ruled they had to, it was the people's right to know the severity of their problem. It's another blow for President Bolsonaro, plus now everyone will be paying even closer attention to reported figures.
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has predicted a 6% slump in the global economy (or 7.5% if there is a second wave of infections). Excitingly European economies will be the worst-affected, with the UK being hit hardest of all and our economy shrinking by 11.5% (or 14% in the event of a second wave). Another 1st place we could have done without.
They believe it is essential to eradicate COVID-19 before the economy can recover, and put focus on health as no.1 priority.
We'll have a nationwide Clap For Carers on 5th July to celebrate the NHS' 72nd birthday. I hope beyond hope we are still proud of a strong NHS when it reaches 100.
Members of the D.C. National Guard have already tested positive for COVID-19, after working during the protests of the last week. Video footage showed very few police or national guard wore masks or adhered to social distancing.
The international postal service is currently suspended (ranging from not happening to incredibly lengthy and unreliable) to the following countries - Azerbaijan, Botswana, Cuba, Haiti, Iraq, Kosovo, Mauritania, Mauritius, Nepal, Paraguay, Turkmenistan, Ukraine - Crimea & Sevastopol Regions, Venezuela and Zambia.
The World Health Organisation has written to Pakistan to recommend they reimpose targeted lockdowns, as cases are rising sharply, especially the Punjab and Sindh provinces. They recommend 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off, as many Pakistani citizens simply cannot afford to survive if they close down for weeks on end.
South Korea have reported 43 domestic cases in the last 24 hours, and introduced mandatory QR Code monitoring at 'high risk facilities', including leisure and other places people congregate. QR codes are downloaded via their contact tracing app. and all data is encrypted and destroyed after 4 weeks.
South Korea are actually quite fond of apps. and technology, and far better at it than us. People in government ordered quarantine have to wear electronic wristbands, and they have apps. for everything, including which stores near you have face masks in stock, and detailed non-identifiable information on the movement of everyone who tests positive. Every confirmed case is given an anonymous patient number.
The Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Formentera, Menorca and Ibiza), are allowing German tourists to visit from 15th June, in a pilot project ahead of reopening to Europe 2 weeks later. All arrival times will be staggered and visitors temperature checked.
There's no 'science' today, but there was a meeting of the Commons Science Committee. Former Government advisor Professor Neil Ferguson this afternoon told them a couple of things I think we all really knew:
"We missed 90% of cases because we weren't screening arrivals to the UK."
"Had we introduced lock down measures a week earlier we would have reduced the final death toll by at least a half."
Press asked about it at the UK briefing, do they look back and have regrets?. Boris blathered, and repeated Chris Whitty that 'we aren't at the end'. Paddy said we have much more information now, there is a lot to look at. Chris said he would highlight the lack of testing at the start. He also pointed out, this is the nature of science. You make an educated guess, but you never know the outcome before it happens, and then you learn from the results. "You always look back."
Some people, each of them a real live human being, incredibly similar to you:
Countries / Cases / Losses of life (some states /provinces yet to report):
USA 2,053,738 (+8,189) 114,414 (+266)
Brazil 747,561 (+5,477) 38,701 (+204)
Russia 493,657 (+8,404) 6,358 (+216)
UK 290,143 (+1,003) 41,128 (+245)
Spain 289,046 not yet reported today 27,136
India 286,798 (+12,018) 8,106 (+387)
Italy 235,763 (+202) 34,114 (+71)
Peru 203,736 not yet reported today 5,738
Germany 186,866 (+350) 8,840 (+9)
Iran 177,938 (+2,011) 8,506 (+81)
Turkey 173,036 (+922) 4,746 (+17)
France 154,591 not yet reported today 29,296
Chile 148,496 (+5,737) 2,475 (+192)
Mexico 124,301 (+4,199) 14,649 (+596)
Pakistan 113,702 (+5,385) 2,255 (+83)
Saudi Arabia 112,288 (+3,717) 819 (+36)
Canada 96,904 (+251) 7,908 (+11)
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Sources:
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/
https://twitter.com/nickeardleybbc/status/1270730651113869317
https://localnews8.com/news/2020/06/09/dc-guard-members-test-positive-for-covid-after-protests/
https://www.zdnet.com/article/south-korea-to-use-qr-codes-to-contain-covid-19/
https://www.bordercountiesadvertizer.co.uk/news/18506814.chester-zoo-reopen-next-monday-following-dramatic-government-u-turn/
https://apnews.com/9058a1f3883bc5f4dd1d5bbeb8a78c0c
https://www.euronews.com/2020/06/09/germans-to-return-to-balearic-islands-two-weeks-before-other-europeans
https://www.zdnet.com/article/south-korea-considers-electronic-wristband-to-enforce-covid-19-quarantine/
I am just not sure anymore about anything. I do love reading your updates though. It's just the small things that make them. I really hope you get to do reporting on thing from now on. You should start a news by Jenny website, it'll be better than all the rest xxx
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