COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News Weekend Update 2nd and 3rd April 2022

COVID-19 Coronavirus UK and World News Weekend Update 2nd and 3rd April 2022

UK Daily Statistics don't update over weekends, so you won't see them here or in the figures at the bottom.

World: 491,255,721 reported cases and 6,175,357 losses of life.

The UK vaccinations programme has opened up for kids aged 5-11 - so you can book appointments from Monday (tomorrow). Lots of walk-in appointments are adult 18+ or 16+ only, so you will be lucky if you can turn up at a walk-in with a minor next Wednesday and get them vaccinated. Check in advance. And remember it looks plausible there is a very slightly increased chance of heart inflammation as an adverse injection reaction for youngsters if they have had COVID within the last 2 or 3 months, so wait 12 weeks after a positive test before vaccinating young people aged under 18. 

Vaccination is advised by religious leaders of all major denominations. If you're invited to get your Spring booster vaccine, or if you haven't yet come forward for your first or second dose or booster vaccine this Ramadan, please come forward.

The UK Health Security Agency is studying XE - which is what we are now calling the 'recombinant mutation' of BA.1 and BA.2 Omicron strains. Hundreds of cases have now been identified - 637 up until 22nd March. As we had over 4 million COVID cases in the UK last week, and they were almost entirely Omicron BA'1 and BA.2 anyway, I'm not going to panic for a long while yet... 

The Independent have been investigating the prosecutions for breaking COVID restrictions in the UK, and have discovered that almost a third have actually been wrongful.
More than 800 miscarriages of justice identified already, but there may be thousands of cases, because not every one has been checked. If the Government Ministers can 'get away with it', you should too.... even though I might personally think you behaved with reckless abandonment... 

"The World Health Organisation (WHO) has suspended the supply through United Nations agencies of COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin manufactured by India-based firm Bharat Biotech. In a statement, the international body said the vaccine is safe and the suspension is "to allow the manufacturer to upgrade facilities and address deficiencies found in an inspection"."
There have been questions over the vaccine manufacturing facilities in the past, and they have returned.
"The risk assessment to date does not indicate a change in the risk-benefit ratio of the vaccine. The data, available to WHO, indicate the vaccine is effective and no safety concern exist."
They just need to bring their manufacturing up to 2022 specs. Sort it out lads!! 

As the Russians pull back out of parts of Ukraine, we are seeing the true horrors of war in what is left behind, and it is grim to the point of sobbing/vomit. This war is rare in that religion does not feature, and nor does language or ethnic origin. I don't believe in a God, and more wars have been fought supposedly in the name of religion than for any other reasons, but when you look at what their books and leaders actually say, I believe most religions have moral standards we should aspire to, and modern day leaders who seek peace and tolerance for all people. 

"Once again, some potentate is provoking and fomenting conflicts, ordinary people sense the need to build a future that, will either be shared, or will not be at all.  Now in the night of the war, let us not allow the dream of peace to fade!"
Pope Francis.
Without a shadow of a doubt my favourite Pope, although not my actual favourite religious leader. That title goes to the current Dalai Lama, whose latest tweet reads:
"The fact that inner peace is the principal characteristic of happiness, explains the paradox that while we can all think of people who remain dissatisfied, despite having every material advantage, there are others who remain happy, despite the most difficult circumstances."
And words from Muslim leader, his Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad:
"It is not just one country. In fact many countries will become embroiled in this conflict if it continues, and the horrifying consequences will last for generations to come...(he asks that they find Godliness)... and not play with human lives for the sake of fulfilling their worldly desires."
We all dream of peace.  

Photos and video that showed crying young children isolated from their families at a Shanghai hospital have really upset local people. There has been nothing to suggest they are not real, and they do seem to fit in with China’s response to COVID, by isolating everyone who is (or may be) infected.

What is currently coming out of Ukraine is truly grim, especially from areas which have been cut off for weeks. Earlier today Zelenskyy said:
"Mothers of Russian soldiers should see that. See what bastards you've raised. Murderers, looters, butchers."
War is always ugly. 

I've had a crazy weekend, as yesterday, out of the blue, we were served notice to move out of our rented home after 15 years! Bit of a shocker. Where do you even start? Thankfully not too much news today, but my surprise moving will no doubt affect how much I can cover over the next 8 weeks, so fingers crossed the slow news situation remains, or I'll have you guys guest posting for me while I frantically pack... 

Ramadan Mubarak and blessings to everyone observing the holy month. I hope you have a fantastic time. Please remember COVID still exists, and it is still harshest on our older and weaker populations. Don't take unnecessary risks, and open windows whenever possible.

Some people. They look like numbers here, but they are all people.

Countries / Cases / Losses of life (since midnight GMT. In larger countries,  such as the USA and India, some states /provinces have yet to report today):

S. Korea 13,639,915 (+264,097) 16,929 (+339)

France 25,895,586 (+132,114) 142,475 (+68)

Germany 21,588,614 (+128,639) 130,529 (+187)

Italy 14,792,227 (+72,224) 159,666 (+129)

Vietnam 9,716,282 (+65,619) 42,563 (+37)

Australia 4,633,278 (+54,667) 6,367 (+26)

Japan 6,606,464 (+53,544) 28,200 (+103)

Thailand 3,684,755 (+28,029) 25,321 (+96)

Brazil 29,995,638 (+20,473) 660,192 (+127)

Austria 3,873,448 (+19,043) 15,957 (+52)

Russia 17,880,038 (+17,949) 369,404 (+340)

Netherlands 7,897,928 (+16,918) 22,006 (+12)

Greece 3,067,354 (+15,823) 27,623 (+52)

Malaysia 4,234,087 (+14,692) 35,069 (+56) 

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Sources: 

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/

https://ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-vaccine-programme-expanded-to-children-aged-five-to-11-12580105

https://twitter.com/i/events/1509145347561603083?t=U5-LqS9n5qAQebTuPVNYMw&s=09

https://twitter.com/NHSEngland/status/1510572907143045130?t=SE64kzGBAiYKnY_FgbcBbg&s=19

https://twitter.com/CrazyBigBoy1/status/1510353289996558340?t=Pl4l40KhUJ6rrH5Oq2iMGQ&s=19

https://t.co/aUMllqFBRL

https://twitter.com/Pontifex/status/1510210434309128196?t=oETQX68O9Cu5_wk_6OYQ2g&s=19

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/covid-new-omicron-xe-variant-symptoms-tests-b2049494.html

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/new-omicron-variant-xe-contagious-symptoms-latest-b2049858.html

https://twitter.com/i/events/1510632789082664962

Shanghai is struggling to contain an outbreak of highly contagious Omicron. 

https://twitter.com/WilliamYang120/status/1510424170835763209?t=42PWfgHnfN1zN5JdX6iqQQ&s=19

Photo: AFP via Getty Images. https://t.co/Ae4CNCZicV

Amendment: I typed blood clots rather than heart inflammation and have corrected. Many links on this page: 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/jcvi-update-on-advice-for-covid-19-vaccination-of-children-and-young-people/jcvi-statement-on-covid-19-vaccination-of-children-and-young-people-22-december-2021