AOG: Final Day News

I can't believe it's already the final day of the 2020 Alternative Olympic Games with only the socially distanced closing ceremony to come. I thought I'd do a collage of 4 news items that didn't make the headline on the day. Firstly there's Harry taking a well earned feeding station break on his way to Silver in the hedgehog overnight walking marathon. Next we have Wendy finishing her fabulous Gold medal routine in the wasp ice dancing competition. Tony is looking embarrassed as well he should after refusing a feather fence in the toad showjumping competition. And finally the photographers caught a shocked Pam during the high launch pigeon timed sprint being flashed by Rodney only an hour before he was kicked out for inappropriate behaviour to the Gold winning Penny on Day 7. It's been a fabulous games and thanks so much to dbifulco for organising the AOG 2020 and to the international judges - well done all.

Day 152 / Full Day 144 of Lockdown / Day 42 of Step 3 (for my record only)
UK deaths up 11 to 41,358 (revised basis). New daily cases up by 1,441 (technical issued prevented publication yesterday). Globally cases to date passed 21m last night, which is a faster 3 days to go up by 1m. Deaths in the US pass 170k. A new 2 week quarantine is required from 4am tomorrow for people returning from France, Malta, the Netherlands, Monaco, Turks and Caicos islands and Aruba. Only 10 people have been fined for breaching quarantine rules - this must change. On R4 they were saying that new cases in Oldham had doubled, but admissions to hospital had halved, it is thought the new cases being more among younger people is having that effect. The ONS says that an estimated 28,300 people in England had the virus between 3rd and 9th Aug, which is 1 in 1,900 people or 0.05% of the population (stable). The max fine for not wearing a mask is doubled to £3,200 and there are plans to introduce fines of up to £10k for organisers of illegal raves. 

More easing of lockdown with the re-opening of bowling alleys, skating rinks, casinos, indoor and soft play centres. Close contact services and treatments can start in beauty salons, tattoo studios etc. Indoor music and arts performances can take place with socially distanced audiences. Wedding receptions for up to 30 can resume. The UK has secured access to two additional vaccines, 90m doses from Novavax and 30m from Janssen - I do like the approach taken by the Govt to vaccines.