See You in November

The guys were removing the Xmas lights in town today, always sad to see them go, they cheer the place up so much in Winter. I’d popped in to return some sale items that didn’t fit (too big for a change) and to post a birthday parcel. A quiet day today, with just some ironing and soup making. Djokovic tweeted today that he has ‘an exemption permission’ to play at the Australian Open without a Covid vaccination……….really! 

Day 659 / Day 26 of Plan B (for my record only)
A record 218,724 new cases were reported today, although this included 4 days data for NI and 2 days for Wales (if ‘smoothed’, would still be c184,753). There was a coronavirus briefing today, not much new news except that 100,000 critical workers have been identified and from 10th they will be supplied with enough lateral flow tests via employers to take a test a day. The CMO also said that whilst cases might have peaked in younger people in London, they are rising in older people. Indeed, he said this wave appears to largely have been an infection among younger people until now, the full consequences of it moving into older age groups has unknown consequences but more will end up in hospital. ICU pressures have not been as high as before, but there is extremely high pressure on ambulances and A&E. The PM said that 60% of those in intensive case hadn’t been vaccinated (10% of population of UK over 12 is unvaccinated with half of 12 to 15 year olds in England being unvaccinated). So far, mortality hasn’t risen in this wave. The PM says he will recommend to the Cabinet tomorrow that Plan B restrictions remain in place for longer. 9 NHS Trusts have now declared ‘critical incidents’ over concern they may not be able to provide priority services. Prof Neil Ferguson says that between 10% and 15% of Omicron cases are reinfections. Almost 1 in 3 PCR test results are now positive. The rail industry says 1 in 10 staff are off work and services have been reduced. The ONS reports that 174,000 deaths have now been registered in the UK where Covid was mentioned on the death certificate.