COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News update 29/30 August 2020.
The UK added 1,715 cases today and now has reported a total of 334,467 positive cases of COVID-19. We completed 186,500 tests yesterday. Yes, that is high. It is the highest daily figure since May, but we are now testing all-comers, and not just those who become ill enough for hospital. Always remember that. 764 people were in hospital on Thursday 27th, with 60 using a ventilator on Friday 28th.
In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we lost another person who has tested positive to COVID-19 with 28 days. We now very sadly have a total of 41,499 officially reported losses of life in all settings.
Rep. Of Ireland 28,760 (+40) cases and 1,777 losses of life.
The world passed an unwanted milestone this weekend, and there have now been more than 25 million cases of COVID reported worldwide. That's 1 in every 309 people worldwide - and that's only those who were tested. There have now been a total of 25,310,664 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 848,846. Already 17,633,488 people have recovered.
All passengers who flew onboard a TUI flight from Zakynthos, Greece to Cardiff on 25 August must quarantine after “at least 7 positive #COVID19 cases from three different groups of passengers” were identified by Public Health Wales. Message there courtesy of Alex Macheras.
Greece is currently on the UK's travel corridor list and no checks are required on arrival.
UK Education Secretary Gavin Williamson released a letter to parents today, ahead of most English schools reopening next week. He published his letter on Facebook - this is how lowbrow we've gone now.
The letter says that they understand some parents are nervous:
"An extensive study by the British Medical Journal this week said that the risk of severe illness due to Covid for children was ‘vanishingly small’ and the chance of them being admitted to hospital because of the virus was ‘tiny’.
In fact, it is generally accepted that there is a far greater risk to children’s health and wellbeing if they don’t go to school. The chief medical officers said in their joint statement: ‘Very few, if any, children or teenagers will come to long-term harm from COVID-19 due solely to attending school. This has to be set against a certainty of long-term harm to many children and young people from not attending school.’:
I'd personally say that it's very carefully worded and doesn't mention risk to any adult, nor does it consider the mental health of any children who find that risk too great to bear.
It goes on to explain about preventative measures, e.g. pupils will be in groups, how important it is to get pupils back, and thanks school staff:
"If a child is not in school, they stand to lose far more than just a few months of learning. It could well put a huge dent in their future life chances. Education is a birthright, so let’s make sure we get all children back - back to learning, back to playing and back to being kids again."
Fingers crossed and a good week to everyone who starts or goes back to in-person education next week.
There was a massive protest in Trafalgar Square on Saturday. They were protesting against masks, lockdowns (call that a lockdown?), social distancing, track & trace (well, it is really very poor), health passports (don't exist), mandatory vaccines (doesn't exist) and the government voting next month to extend the Coronavirus Law for another 24 months (not yet happened).
As an experiment to see if this is likely to make a noticeable change in reported cases, it's already been done. See Michigan, Texas or Florida. Brazil maybe. Recent history tells us some of those people will regret their day out, and the lucky ones will turn up in Sunday mags in 2 weeks time to tell us all about it.
Berlin also saw large protests, which were broken up by police. Masses of protesters then stormed the government buildings, leading to hundreds of arrests.
Call those crowds? See Belarus. President Lukashenko isn't enjoying the coverage of the truly massive anti-government protests in Minsk, which are making protests elsewhere seem like a bus queue, and the government have expelled many foreign journalists. Opposite to most countries, these crowds are protesting government corruption and their complete lack of response to coronavirus.
University students represent the largest annual migration of people in the UK, with around 1 million moving around the country each September. There are obviously fears this could spread Covid-19 really successfully. It works a treat for meningitis.
(How about they all spend 2 weeks isolated and learn /engage remotely before being released? Freshers fortnight, but without the walking.)
The Government has published their new guidance for schools in England - giving teaching and support staff one weekend and a bank holiday to prepare for hundreds or thousands of pupils to return. Honestly, if you want people to take superhuman roles with unachievable outcomes, and it all go swimmingly, you should at least treat them with the respect they deserve. And stop blaming staff for spread in schools. Schools are full of kids. Have you never met kids?.
Cologne have cancelled their Christmas markets. I think we have to expect that this Christmas just isn't going to be the same as those before it. If I turn out to be wrong, excellent. I'll gladly eat my hat... with brandy butter and mince pie ice cream. Start to think about how you can spend time and love on your nearest and dearest this year - don't focus on what you might miss, think about what awesome things you can do. You could make some of the most amazing memories of your life.
There are 4 distinct reasons why the number of people dying from COVID-19 is decreasing compared to the number of cases, in the UK and across Europe.
1. We are testing loads more people. Back at the UK peak in March, we actually had hundreds of thousands of cases, but we only tested people who ended up in hospital. We didn't even test everyone we KNEW had COVID. We were told to just stay home, infect your families, save the NHS. Most of Europe was the same, and is in the same position - without a positive test you don't get added to confirmed cases.
2. COVID-19 stole weeks and months from a lot of people who were vulnerable. It tore through care homes and older populations. In more than one European country, around half of all deaths have been in care homes. Our vulnerable population is now smaller, and thank heavens we understand more and behave far more effectively at actually shielding them.
3. Statistics worldwide show that it is those aged 18-45 involved in community spread. These are younger, healthier people. Those who feel more at risk simply aren't going out or letting their guard down. We have a distinct split between people who think COVID could kill them, and those who think they are bombproof. Please try to respect each other, and protect each other.
4. In many European countries numbers of cases are currently on the rise. It is a sad fact that hospital admissions lag by a week or more, and mortality figures lag behind by around 2-3 1/2 weeks - because that is how long it takes most people to become really ill, or eventually succumb.
3,450 bereaved UK family members have formed the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group. They are calling for a judge-led inquiry into the government’s handling of coronavirus.
South Korea are running out of hospital beds. Seoul only had 15 critical care beds free on Friday. That's the same South Korea who did so incredibly well until now. It's really very harsh. Since the club outbreak in Seoul, where 1 asymptomatic person spread it to loads more in 3 night clubs, they just haven't been able to contain spread. They are fantastic at track and trace, and around 1,000 of the newest cases have been linked to the Sarang Jeil Church in Seoul. A single superspreading event (or 2) can derail an entire country's efforts.
It was Notting Hill Carnival today, and it was entirely online. Thank you to every single artist and performer who has gone online to share your craft this year. You Tube has brought us much more live entertainment than we could ever hope to witness in person... never think it wasn't worthwhile.
Have an excellent Bank Holiday - I'm taking the day off and so is my OH (first Bank holiday this year!). I hope you get the day off too! Physical Distance, not Social Distance, Save The NHS.
Some people, every one a human being. An animal living on the same rock as you:
Countries / Cases / Losses of life (some states /provinces yet to report):
USA 6,156,859 (+17,781) 187,026 (+171)
Brazil 3,847,739 (+774) 120,546 (+48)
India 3,613,922 (+74,210) 64,547 (+890)
Russia 990,326 (+4,980) 17,093 (+68)
Peru 639,435 not yet reported today 28,607
South Africa 622,551 not yet reported today 13,981
Colombia 599,914 not yet reported today 19,064
Mexico 591,712 (+5,974) 63,819 (+673)
Spain 455,621 not yet reported today 29,011
Chile 408,009 not yet reported today 11,181
Argentina 401,239 not yet reported today 8,401
Iran 373,570 (+1,754) 21,462 (+103)
UK 334,467 (+1,715) 41,499 (+1)
Saudi Arabia 314,821 (+910) 3,870 (+30)
Bangladesh 310,822 (+1,897) 4,248 (+42)
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Sources
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/
https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/
https://m.dw.com/en/german-politicians-condemn-far-right-attempt-to-storm-parliament-building/a-54758246
https://twitter.com/i/events/1299692506590801922?s=09
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-southkorea/surge-in-south-korea-coronavirus-cases-sparks-hospital-bed-shortage-concerns-idUSKBN25P08X
https://nypost.com/2020/08/29/south-korea-low-on-hospital-beds-as-second-covid-19-wave-hits/
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