Comparing Countries to the UK

I have not written anything about COVID for some time so with the news about the US President I thought it would be a good time to compare the UK against other countries to see just how well the UK is actually doing. Most people can make their own minds up, but knowledge is power. To keep any comparison meaningful all figures are per 1M of the population and are taken straight from Worldometer

Immediately what this shows is that because of our population size we actually do compare favourably with other EU countries who are all struggling to contain the virus. The surprise to me was Ireland who I thought was doing so much better than the UK. The second table I want to show is just how much Testing is done.

To me, this simple table shows that it’s not the total number of test done but who, when and why…i.e.the QUALITY of the testing. Getting the results back fast, contacting the correct person and the population acting upon the information.

Lastly below is the current Cases per million of population from Ourworld in Data.

On 1st September, the UK rate was 19.48 cases per million, just below the government’s quarantine rate for other countries of 20 per M. Today it stands at 92.4 On July 8th it was 8.65. Where has it all gone wrong?

My own personal conclusions and predictions

Are the UK Gov doing better than others? I’d say at most average. They lost the confidence and respect of the general public a long time ago and leadership and accountability is completely lacking together with a complete lack of joined up thinking. Hence the Poll of Polls shows their 23% lead is down to 1%. However here are my current predictions on 3rd Oct.

• There will be no 2nd UK wide lockdown
• This second wave is “peaking”
• This second wave could have and should have been avoided.
• The UK governments “Track and Trace” is the single best weapon to fight COVID infections, and it still does not work. Just watch this weeks Panorama. (see below)
• We will still be talking about COVID this time next year

Views Expressed in this article are my own personal views.

This is a public health message from NHS Test and Trace

As part of the government’s coordinated response to Coronavirus, NHS Test and Trace has developed the new NHS COVID-19 app.

It is now available for download to all residents of England and Wales. We strongly recommend that everyone over the age of 16 downloads and uses it.

Download the ‘NHS COVID-19’ app from the App Store or Google Play. There is more information at https://covid19.nhs.uk

The app will help you to understand and manage your personal risk and reduce the spread of Coronavirus. The more people who use it, the more effective it will be.

The app requires operating system 13.5 or above if you have an Apple iPhone. It requires Android 6.0 or above if you have an Android phone. If your smartphone is not compatible, you can still access full support from the NHS Test and Trace service.

And the date is…

The date for the release of the new NHS COVID-19 contact-tracing app is THURSDAY 24th September. It will then be launched across England and Wales according to the UK Gov.

Businesses are getting ready

Businesses across England and Wales like pubs, restaurants, hairdressers and cinemas are at present being urged to ensure they have NHS QR code posters visible on entry. This will enable customers who have downloaded the new NHS COVID-19 app to use the NHS smartphone app to easily check-in.

The government are also asking businesses and venues to display the new QR codes, which can be downloaded via a website to display as posters, in premises.

With coronavirus cases rising in the UK over the last few weeks it is essential businesses capitalise on the benefits QR codes which bring to protect both themselves and their customers.

Businesses who are already using their own QR system are being encouraged to switch to the NHS Test and Trace QR code. An alternative check-in method must also be maintained to collect the contact details of those customers who don’t have the app.

After Thursday 24th September

Following the launch of the new NHS COVID-19 app, customers and visitors in England and Wales will be able to check-in on entry with their phone instead of filling out a check-in book or tool specific to a business. This will allow NHS Test and Trace to easily contact customers with public health advice should there be a COVID-19 outbreak.

What the app does regarding Check-in

1. When someone enters a venue and scans an official QR poster, the venue information will be logged on the user’s phone.
2. Each venue has its own Location Identity.
3. The location information scanned on entry will stay on a user’s phone for 21 days.
4. NO INFORMATION at any time is send from your phone to the government.
5. If in the next 21 days a coronavirus outbreak is identified at that location, the venue ID in question will be sent to ALL devices.
6. The App will check if users have been at that location and if so, users may get an alert with advice on what to do based on the level of risk.

What else does the app do?

The full details can be seen the the app website. However it can help with the following:

• Tracing (using a risk-scoring algorithm it works out how likely you are to infect or be infected by contacts)
• Alerts (What is you Postcode risk level)
• Check-in (see above)
• Symptoms (you can report your symptoms onto the app)
• Testing (it will advise you how to book a test if needed)
• Isolating (it provides a self isolating countdown)

“World Beating app”

Now that the app is here on Thursday, it will of course need for the large percentage of the population to download, install and carry their phone around at all times. People will need also to switch their phones on! I am happy that no information is now stored in a central database and I do hope that it proves to be world beating. It however, very similar to app other countries have been using for quite some time.

Covid Testing Unit

The mobile testing unit will be back at the Stinchcombe Rugby Club according to the Gloucestershire County Council website next week. Wed 23rd until Fri 25th September.

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.

COVID Testing Centre in Stinchcombe

I cycled back from shopping in Cam today. As I passed the Rugby Club I noticed that we now have our very own Testing Centre. It is situated in the Dursley Rugby Club car park in a tent. I wonder whether if I asked on-line for a test, would I get sent there? It is certainly closer than Gloucester, or Cardiff.

Previous Post about COVID testing in Stinchcombe

Village Gossip

COVID Testing

The Stinchcombe Rugby Club have had a request via Glos Police to offer their park for the locating of a Covid mobile testing unit.

What does it involve

This will involve them being on site during day time hours for probably 3 days at a time every 4 weeks or so. Those attending for testing will remain in their cars and the process will take place entirely outside in the car park area.

Latest Posts

Flu (influenza) season October 2019 – April 2020

COVID-19

I thought that this would bring home the fact that COVID-19 is NOT “like the flu” as Trump tweeted. For a start it’s summertime and it’s still rampant with an extra 60K cases everyday in the USA and shows no sign of slowing down so the 20M + (official) cases could still be hit by the end of the year. Also already, more American citizens have died in the USA than all of the Wars since Vietnam.

Americans love to quote the 1st Amendment…”Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” Where does it say anything about NOT wearing a mask to protect other citizens?