There’s Always the Shop!

Most years I have gone to Wimbledon, but I didn’t fancy it this year with the virus and I’m glad I chose that watching the large crowds and no face masks. But….I did visit the online shop! How terrible to see Emma Raducanu struggling with her breathing in last night’s match and the medics advising her to withdraw. Glad she’s feeling better today. 

A frustrating day, the reliable back up that I’ve used for years has decided enough is enough. The MicroSoft Synctoy software I was recommended can no longer be downloaded. After researching software I tried a free 30 day trial of Acronis True Image. That took over an hour to even start backing up, then failed. I suspect my new external hard drive might be the problem as the copying is mega slow. Ordered a different hard drive from Amazon. So 6 hours and nothing achieved! 

Day 477 / Day 51 of Step 3 of Roadmap Easing (for my record only)
Sajid Javid, Health Secretary says we might see 100,000 cases a day this Summer and there is a real risk of a vaccine resistant variant. Prof Neil Ferguson says it could be as high as 200,000 a day. I still think ditching virtually all restrictions is very risky in a partly vaccinated population, creating ideal opportunities for new variants. I find abandoning mask wearing absurd given the spread and given that we’re used to it and it costs the Govt nothing to keep, whereas more in hospital does cost the Govt. A former CSA says removing most measures all at once is a ‘very, very risky way forward’ and ‘there’s an enormous risk we’ll have to come back into restrictions again’. The CMO said today that as well as vaccinations, to prevent Long Covid we need to ‘keep COVID rates right down’ - which is contradictory to the tone and content of yesterday’s announcements. From 16th Aug, the double jabbed will not need to self isolate when in contact with someone with COVID, but will be advised to take a PCR test. In schools, only those who test positive will have to self isolate, close contacts will be given advice on getting tested depending on their age. Bizarre to announce this on 6th July with rapidly rising cases as a lot of people will now ignore a notification to self isolate. Data in Israel shows the Pfizer vaccine now only blocks 64% of infections rather than 94% in May due to the Delta variant. However it is still 93% effective in preventing hospitalisations and serious illness. Last year there were more deaths than births, only the second time this has happened since the start of the 20th century. 12.1% of deaths last year were due to COVID. £80bn has been given out in Govt backed emergency loans.