COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News Weekend Update 12th / 13th December 2020.
The UK added 18,447 cases today and now has reported a total of 1,849,403 positive cases of COVID-19.
16,531 people were in hospital on Thursday 10th, with 1,275 using a ventilator on Friday 11th December.
In the 24 hours up until 5pm yesterday, we officially reported the loss of another 144 people who have tested positive to COVID-19 within 28 days. We now very sadly have a total of 64,170 officially reported losses of life in all settings.
Rep. Of Ireland 75,756 cases and 2,132 losses of life. (Not yet reported today.)
There have now been a total of 72,400,912 reported cases worldwide. The number of people who have lost their lives worldwide to COVID-19 is 1,616,081. Already 50,727,498 people have recovered.
After her passionate speech last week, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has made her move. She is not prepared to sit back and watch a potential disaster unfold over Christmas.
From Wednesday Germany is closing all schools, day care and Inessential retail until at least January 10th.
That's one hell of a Christmas holiday for a lot of people who weren't expecting it.
The massive increase in ships attempting to dock and unload ahead of Christmas, coupled with firms attempting to stockpile ahead of BREXIT, and added disruption because of COVID, has caused bottlenecks and delays at British ports. This is having a knock on effect - even Swindon car manufacturer Honda have had to temporarily shut down because of lack of parts.
Soooooo, that's going well....
On Friday the US Food and Drug Administration approved an emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Distribution and vaccination can now go ahead as soon as logistically possible. The first lorry loads of vaccine have left Pfizer in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and vaccine supplies should arrive in all 50 states by Monday.
I'm also smiling because there's really a place called Kalamazoo.
On Friday the White House Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows, told the FDA chief, Stephen Hahn, to submit his resignation if the FDA hadn't authorised the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine by the end of the day.
That's really not clever - and although the FDA had already said they would be approving it, it's an ugly precedent to set. No drug should be authorised because political people say so.
The UK's SAGE and independent SAGE advisory people are easily as twitchy as Angela Merkel about Christmas and are warning that it could be disastrous in January, with a really big 3rd wave of cases.
They advise families to isolate themselves as best as possible for 10 days before gathering together, especially if you are meeting with vulnerable family and friends. And they are reminding us all... 'Just because you can, doesn't mean you should'.
The head of the USA's 'Operation Warp Speed', Moncef Slaoui, said on Fox News that he hopes 40m US citizens will receive the Pfizer vaccine this month, and another 50m to 80m in January.That'll be really impressive if they manage it.
Snow leopards are the latest animals to catch COVID, presumably from their human keepers. Three Louisville Zoo residents have tested positive.
South Korea are having a bit of a nightmare. Every time they seem to have got a lid on their cases, they pop up again. They reported 1,030 new cases today. Their total cases are 42,766. It's a bit of a blow.
Taiwan are also a country who have been very strict on COVID. If you travel to Asia for goodness sake take it very seriously. Last week a Filipino guest in a quarantine hotel left his room to put something outside his friend's door, and was spotted on CCTV. His 8 second transgression cost him a £2,645 fine...
The UK Government have published a list of all of the local Tier 3 areas which will receive community testing in this round, and some have already started. There are 67 Local Authorities in total, and they expect to work with over 100 in the New Year.
"More than 1.6 million rapid-turnaround lateral flow tests will be immediately deployed to detect asymptomatic cases and drive down transmission in highest risk areas."
Community testing has been incredibly effective at reducing cases in Liverpool - and elsewhere around the world. You are much better off if you can remove some asymptomatic spreaders from the mix.
Not much news today - which is a relief because I felt like I already wrote a novel this week! Think carefully about Christmas - and think about your own behaviour ahead of Christmas, because what you do right now could make all the difference.
Always wash your hands when you get home, and before you prepare food or eat, and open a window from time to time - let the fresh air in...
Some numbers. Behind every number is a name and a face:
Countries / Cases / Losses of life (in larger countries some states /provinces have yet to report today)
USA 16,583,753 (+34,387) 305,345 (+263)
India 9,884,472 (+27,092) 143,389 (+334)
Brazil 6,889,084 (+8,489) 181,229 (+86)
Russia 2,653,928 (+28,080) 46,941 (+488)
France 2,365,319 not yet reported today 57,761
UK 1,849,403 (+18,447) 64,170 (+144)
Italy 1,843,712 (+17,938) 64,520 (+484)
Turkey 1,836,728 (+26,919) 16,417 (+218)
Spain 1,741,439 not yet reported today 47,624
Argentina 1,494,602 not yet reported today 40,668
Colombia 1,417,072 not yet reported today 38,866
Germany 1,320,592 not yet reported today 22,171
Mexico 1,241,436 (+12,057) 113,704 (+685)
Poland 1,135,676 (+8,977) 22,864 (+188)
Iran 1,108,269 (+7,451) 52,196 (+247)
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Sources:
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/
https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/
https://amp.dw.com/en/german-lockdown-merkel-orders-tough-new-covid-curbs/a-55921912
https://m.dw.com/en/uk-honda-halts-production-at-swindon-plant-over-supply-chain-issues/a-55884085
https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2020/12/11/us/snow-leopard-positive-coronavirus-kentucky-zoo-trnd/index.html
https://twitter.com/i/events/1338129625210220547
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/first-wave-of-targeted-tier-3-community-testing-initiatives-announced
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/covid-cases-uk-christmas-restrictions-b1770121.html
https://www.politico.com/states/california/story/2020/12/11/fda-authorizes-first-covid-19-vaccine-for-emergency-use-1345759
https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/529994-operation-warp-speed-head-says-40m-doses-of-vaccine-will-be#.X9ZLUOdravs.twitter
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/939147/S0849_SPI-B_Executive_Summary_-_Insights_on_Celebrations_and_Observances_during_COVID-19.pdf
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/christmas-coronavirus-sage-disaster-scientist-19444538
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