The Brick Castle: COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News update 8th June 2020.

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News update 8th June 2020.

The UK added 1,205 cases today and now has reported a total of 287,399 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 138,183 tests yesterday. 6,403 people are in hospital, down from 7,543 this time last week.

In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we lost another 55 people who have tested positive to COVID-19. That is a very low figure and affected by weekend reporting, but even so, very positive and the lowest since before we locked down. We do now very sadly have a total of 40,597 losses of life in all settings.

England 155,000 / 36,244

Northern Ireland 4,802 / 537

Scotland 15,639 / 2,415

Wales 14,438 / 1,401

Rep. Of Ireland 25,207 (+9) cases and 1,683 (+4) losses of life.

There have now been over 7 million cases reported worldwide - 7,146,119.

The number of people who have lost their lives to COVID-19 is over 400,000 - 407,408

Much more positively, already over 3.5 million people have recovered - 3,485,693

parenting spend time with each child advice the WHO

"Although the situation in Europe is improving, globally it is worsening. More than 100,000 COVID19 cases have been reported on 9 of the past 10 days. Yesterday, more than 136,000 cases were reported, the most in a single day so far. Almost 75% of yesterday’s cases come from 10 countries, mostly in the Americas and South Asia.

Most countries in the African region are still experiencing an increase in the number of COVID19 cases, with some reporting cases in new geographic areas, although most countries in the region have less than 1000 cases. We also see increasing numbers of COVID19 cases in parts of Eastern Europe and central Asia.

At the same time, we’re encouraged that several countries around the world are seeing very positive signs. In these countries, the biggest threat now is complacency."

Dr Tedros, Head of the World Health Organisation.

Scotland have asked people who are shielding to stay home until at least 31st July, and hope to be able to enter Phase 2 of lifting restrictions on 18th June.

Both Scotland and Northern Ireland have reported no new losses of life to COVID-19 in 2 days. (It is a weekend, but even so, this is an incredibly hopeful sign).

England are apparently reopening pub gardens on 22nd June.

If I was Nicola Sturgeon, I'd be out there at the border with a saw. Or a fence. Anything. Even just a sign that says "Closed. You wouldn't like it anyway, it doesn't look like the photos and it's full of midges".

Today's England briefing was with our de facto Prime Minister Matt Hancock, and David Pearson, Chair of National COVID-19 Social Care Support Taskforce.

The slides are really encouraging, showing clear reductions in all areas of the UK. Matt assured us that the latest data from SAGE shows the R number is below 1 in all areas. There were no reported losses of life in London yesterday too.

The number of people dying in care homes has fallen by 79% from it's peak week ending 24th April. In total 12,739 residents have lost their lives. 29.1% of all UK COVID_19 deaths.

Going forward we have a new plan to ensure care homes have the equipment, training and resources they need. Not just during restrictions, but afterwards.

All elderly care home residents and staff in England have now been tested, and all remaining adult care homes can now request tests for staff and residents.

Press asked why we have a 2 metre rule when other countries have 1 metre. Matt didn't have an answer. Healthy adult breath can travel around 6ft, coughs and sneezes 8ft - breezes affect this, as does humidity and whether you are moving etc. Personally I've never really understood why any country would go for 1 metre, except that it makes it possible to pass in corridors and on pavements, whereas 2 metres makes that very hard.

On Sunday Robert Jenrick, Housing and communities bloke, announced another £6m funding for homeless charities, and that places of worship in England will reopen for individual prayer from 15th June.

Brazilian authorities have taken down all official case data from their website and have said it's being reviewed. It's a really obvious move to try and hide just how badly they are coping, and makes me quite scared for the people of Brazil. President Bolsonaro still insists it will 'only kill the old and weak' and is pushing for full reopening of the economy nationwide.

When they stopped publishing case data, Brazil had reported 691,962 cases. They are still publishing mortality figures and have lost another 813 people today. Total 37,312 succumbed.

New York begins a phased reopening today, and around 400,000 people will return to work. Retail, wholesale, construction and manufacturing begins to reopen.

Apparently, according to The Mirror, Conservative MPs were ordered to tweet backing Dominic Cummings when he went on his COVID-19 spreading UK tour, and they were told their career would be affected if they didn't. That might explain why the majority tweeted almost exactly the same copy/paste comments. Big respect to those who stood up for their moral values - Justice Secretary Robert Buckland, International Trade boss Liz Truss and surprise of them all - Home Secretary, Priti Patel (Grrrr).

To be able to declare an infectious disease outbreak officially over, you have to wait for twice as long as the incubation time, to allow unknown cases to develop symptoms.

Democratic Republic of Congo was earlier this year Ebola-free, the last new admission to hospital had been on 17th February and they were close to declaring the outbreak over. The WHO said 42 days (6 weeks) was the official 2 x incubation. They sadly discovered 3 new new cases on 10th April, 35 days (5 weeks) after the last known case was released from hospital on March 4th.

Northern Ireland Complacency costs lives

Imperial College London’s vaccine will start phase one and two human clinical trials on June 15th, with 300 volunteers. This is an RNA vaccine, which delivers genetic instructions to muscle cells to make the “spike” protein that covers the surface of the virus. Our bodies react with an immune response and form antibodies.

A 14 day quarantine for arrivals has been imposed by the UK from today. It applies to visitors from any country except Ireland. The Air Industry are really unhappy about it.

In many parts of India shopping malls, restaurants and places of worship reopen today, and they really may not be ready for it. They reported their highest number of new cases in a single day yesterday, and are in no way under control of the situation.

Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal was taken ill and is now isolating, awaiting the results of his COVID-19 test.

In today's World Health Organisation briefing, they gave support to peaceful protest, and a little advice:

"WHO fully supports equality and the global movement against racism. We reject discrimination of all kinds.

We encourage all those protesting around the world to do so safely"

"As much as possible, keep at least 1 metre from others, clean your hands, cover your cough and wear a mask if you attend a protest.

We remind all people to stay home if you are sick and contact a health care provider"

More than 90% of the doctors who have died from COVID in the UK have been from BAME backgrounds.

If you have symptoms, you must get a test

A poll by Reuters Institute has found:

27% of British people think the Coronavirus situation is heading in the right direction.

48% of British people think the government is a trustworthy source of Coronavirus information.

25% of people think the UK is on the wrong track.

I obviously wouldn't ever condone violent action, but in Bristol the statue of Edward Colston, infamous trader of slaves and slave manufactured goods, has been pulled down and thrown off the same harbour he used to land at with his ships. It's already been relocated on Google maps. Get in the sea.

New Zealand is COVID-19 free, and all remaining known cases have recovered. They are moving to level 1 restrictions - life is pretty much normal, but the border remains closed.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern closed the border and banned large gatherings on March 19th, when they had 28 cases. Heavy restrictions were imposed 4 days later, closing schools and inessential business. 2 days after that everything that wasn't entirely necessary was closed and travel limited to essential local movement only.

They acted hard and fast, tracing movement for every case and isolating contacts, and preventing spread throughout their country. Now they reap the benefits. Jacinda is totally my hero of the entire crisis. You wonderfully quick-acting, no-messing, kick ass woman you. Best of luck going forward.

It's carers week. If you are a carer, you have probably felt ignored or belittled for most of your working life. Be assured that far more of the population now realise just how valuable and important you really are. I hope you have a good week. Thank you for what you do.

Some numbers. They all have family, because they're not numbers, they are people:

Countries / Cases / Losses of life (some states /provinces yet to report):

USA 2,013,887 (+6,438) 112,645 (+176)

Brazil 693,953 (+1,991) 37,312 (+813)

Russia 476,658 (+8,985) 5,971 (+112)

Spain 288,630 not yet reported today 27,136

UK 287,399 (+1,205) 40,597 (+55)

India 265,740 (+8,254) 7,473 (+266)

Italy 235,278 (+280) 33,964 (+65)

Peru 196,515 not yet reported today 5,465

Germany 186,056 (+187) 8,783 (+7)

Iran 173,832 (+2,043) 8,351 (+70)