Snowdrops

This morning I watched both of the women's semi-finals at the Australian Open, neither were close matches. Looking forward to seeing what should hopefully be a tight final on Saturday. This afternoon I thought I'd walk into town to see if the snowdrops were out yet in the churchyard. It gladdens the heart to see these lovely little bulbs appearing in late January. I've added another photo to Extras. 

Day 682 / Day 1 Post Plan B (for my record only)
Plan B restrictions ended today in England, although the PM reminded us all to remain cautious. Tesco is the latest supermarket to ask customers to carry on wearing masks and train passengers are also being asked to wear one. From Mon 31st Jan care home residents will be able to receive an unlimited number of visitors, plus self isolation periods will be cut to 10 days from 14 for those testing positive. I was very pleased to see care workers will be asked to take a daily LFT before their shift from 16th Feb, rather than a weekly PCR test. I was astonished to realise last night that the daily case numbers reported do not include re-infections (which accounted for 2/3 of cases in the latest REACT-1 study). This is to change from 31st Jan - a reinfection is counted if at least 90 days has passed from the last one. (I'm still unsure if England includes LFT positive cases as they don't have to have a PCR test now - I suspect not but can't tell). How can you manage a pandemic if you don't have accurate data???? There will be a step increase in cumulative numbers, but historic numbers by report date won't be revised. Germany had more than 200,000 new infections for the first time today. Birmingham is to create 10 memorial gardens for Covid victims, 1 in each constituency. On Tuesday in English hospitals, 52% of patients with Covid were being primarily treated for another reason. Some women may notice a small change to their menstrual cycle after being vaccinated, but changes quickly reverse. A second man has pleaded guilty to a charge of intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress to Sir Chris Whitty (CMO- England) and has been jailed for 8 weeks and ordered to pay £1,058 in costs and compensation. Still no 'partygate' report.