Tag: COVID-19

Here to help

Two down, Two to go

After two weeks of lockdown, we still have two more weeks of Lockdown. Many people probably feel that this second Lockdown is harder than the first. Maybe because of the darker nights, maybe because of “pandemic fatigue“, or just because of less social interaction. It might be because someone has employment or financial worries.

Covid has also come closer, with most people now knowing either a person who has had COVID or knows of a friend of a friend.

Stinchcombe Together

At this time remember to look after your neighbours and keep in touch with friends, make sure they are OK. Remember Stinchcombe Together is still here to help with:

Shopping,
Prescriptions
Essential items
Keeping in touch
General support

Each area of the Village has its own Local Street Contact to coordinate the response required. For more information email stinchcombeparish@gmail.com

Stinchcombe Together also run the “Stinchcombe Social” WhatsApp Group which anyone in the village is free to join.

Support

Lockdown Support

Latest Information from Stroud District Council

Shielding Support

People who were advised to shield during the last wave and People who had access to a supermarket priority delivery slot will still be able to access this without the need to re-register. People who did not use this service during the first lockdown but would like to this time they will need to register. This can be done by via The National Shielding Support Service(NSSS).

If anyone needs help with registering on the NSSS please contact Gloucestershire Help Hub on telephone 01452 583519.

The Clinically Extremely Vulnerable

Some residents may have received a letter from the Government and Gloucestershire County Council advising them that they are Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV). If a resident hasn’t received a letter but believes they are a CEV they would need to check with their GP or Clinician regarding this. You can find a list of people who would be considered to be a CEV here at SDC

Further Information

You can find further up to date information at the SDC Coronavirus update. This includes :-

Advice for CEV’s
Funding for Covid-19 Response Groups
Updates from Government
Gloucestershire Community Help Hub
Support with food
Support for Older Adults
Homelessness advice and referrals
Mental Health Support
Domestic Violence
Money worries and budgeting

Lockdown – the sequel

The Prologue

Like most people, I had hoped that the country could avoid a second National Lockdown. However it seems we have joined an ever lengthening list of countries that include Austria, France, Germany, Belgium, Ireland and other parts of the UK that have announced a second Lockdown.

Re-reading the plot

I have been looking back at one of my earlier posts from the website in the year about Coronavirus and COVID-19, especially the earlier ones and what I forecast. For example:

“100M cases worldwide by the end of the year” 5 August 2020
“cross fingers, I do feel positive that the “second wave” can be avoided” 5 August 2020
“Any possible vaccine is up to 12 – 18 months away” 6 April 2020

The first is still possible, the second is now wrong and the third I still think will be true.

So, why are we in Lockdown – AGAIN

We all had hoped that because the virus infection rates had receded during the summer that we would be able to carry on, with restrictions, through the Winter. Unfortunately to my mind it come down to one thing The Percentage of Asymptomatic Cases.

According to the latest research from the CDC, 40% of all infections are asymptomatic. The CDC also say that this 40% pass on 75% of all infections.

This means, that you are three times as likely to catch COVID-19 from a person showing no signs of infection as you are from a person showing infection.

Without proper SOCIAL DISTANCING people play Russian Roulette with the virus. Every close contact outside your support bubble increases the probability that the person you meet is infectious but asymptomatic. Here in Gloucestershire, Stroud area cases have increased 69% in the last 7 days. We are still BELOW the National average, but the “confirmed” case numbers are now rising steeply.

AND REMEMBER for every 10 confirmed cases, there are 4 more walking around who don’t know they have it!

From the COVID Symptom Tracker App Study

Over 1m Cases by 5th November?

Are we now following France?

Having just looked at the confirmed covid cases for the UK and France I note that we seem to be around 10 days behind France. Today (October 28th) we have 917K cases and France passed this number on October 21st. Does this mean we shall pass the 1m in 3 days and be in Lockdown in 10 days?

Today France is talking about a total lockdown according to the news. Time to go out and buy toilet paper and flour again?

COVID-19 Testing at DRC

COVID Testing at the Rugby Club

Covid Testing Unit

The mobile testing unit will be back at the Stinchcombe Rugby Club according to the Gloucestershire County Council website tomorrow Wed 28th October. Also Monday 2nd and Tuesday 3rd November.

Anyone with symptoms of Covid-19 can have a test BUT you must book a test in advance

Anyone with symptoms of Covid-19 can have a test. You must book a test in advance. Please do not turn up to one of the locations without booking anyone without a booking risks being turned away.

To book a test

To book a test or for more information on testing, go to the NHS website or call 119.

Permanent unit

Gloucester RTS
Hempsted Meadows, David Hook Way, Gloucester, GL2 5LE

Coronavirus Image

COVID Update October

Latest Numbers

The BBC and others are fixated on UK news. Are we SO insular these days? Looking at the Worldwide COVID-19 Dashboard I see that not only has the 40M case number been passed but the 400K new cases per day also. The whole of the EU (and UK) is also now in the midst of a second “wave”. In March the peak was at the 30K per day level at present it’s 115K per day.

Of course this is not the whole story as most people in March were not tested, so the estimated daily infection rate for March is probably higher than now.

Worrying Trend for the UK

However, behind the current statistics is a worrying trend. So whilst the current estimated daily infection rate for the UK is around 17.5K per day, well short the peak 100K per day in March, unless something drastic is done in the UK this could rise to 85K by the end of the year. This would also mean that the same number of ICU beds that we needed in May would be needed in January. Unfortunately we are due to run out of ICU beds in early November……

Coronavirus relative size

The size of Coronavirus

Just how large is a single Coronavirus?

I came across this diagram of the relative size of the Coronavirus on the website Visual Capitalist. It shows the size of coronavirus compared with other particles like dust, pollen, hair, salt and sand etc. The fascinating thing was how small smoke and droplets from breath can be. The full article Visualizing the Relative Size of Particles gives all the information.

Two down, Two to go

Stinchcombe Together

Latest Information from Stroud District Council

Shielding Support

The Clinically Extremely Vulnerable

Further Information

The Prologue

Re-reading the plot

So, why are we in Lockdown – AGAIN

Are we now following France?

Covid Testing Unit

To book a test

Permanent unit

Latest Numbers

Worrying Trend for the UK

Just how large is a single Coronavirus?

Today

11 October 2025

Sunday

12 October 2025

Monday

13 October 2025

Tuesday

14 October 2025

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Local Pictures by Mike Henton