I read yesterday that the Government is shedding 6,000 workers from the test-and-trace operations. 6000 is a large percentage of the 25,000 (24%) of the total number employees. So has the system reached Baroness Dido Hardings “Gold Standard” ?
“Contact tracing has to be led locally by people who work in the communities that are affected and understand them,They’re part-detectives, part-anthropologists: they work with leaders in faith groups, in community organisations, and public services, to understand why there are more cases in a particular area, and how to work with everyone to contain and reduce the challenges. You can’t do that sitting in a remote call centre.”
Sir Chris Ham
New Local Test and Trace
Now local councils are starting their OWN local test-and-trace operations in Blackburn, Leicester, Manchester, Calderdale and Liverpool. The Government has been forced to share the current and up to date information with the local health workers. If only to enable the test-and-trace effort to be better coordinated.
According to the Guardian Newspaper the central call-centre workers only manager to trace 56% of people’s contacts, whereas the figure for local health teams was 98%.
Hopefully, what will emerge will finally be a Test and Trace system that actually works.
In the last newsletter I promised you an update, so these are my PERSONAL thoughts.
Worldwide.
Today, on the 5th August, the worldwide number of cases reached 18.5M and looking at the logarithmic page in worldometer it doesn’t take rocket science to predict that if nothing changes, by the end of the year there will be 100m cases worldwide. There is also a great deal of under-reporting in many countries, (for political reasons and non-political reasons) This means that the possible number by year end may be much, much higher. 100m is around 1.25% of the world’s population.
Whatever the figure is at the end of the year, I am trying to say that this virus is still VERY active worldwide and will NOT go away until the Vaccine arrives, and the vaccine will arrive, but don’t go looking for your dose until WINTER 2021.
UK
I have been critical of the Government’s response from the start and unfortunately still remain critical.
The “World Beating App” which was given to NHS developers who unfortunately saw it as a chance to collect data, store it centrally, and allow for great data analysis. This is the same NHS where one hospital can’t send patients details electronically to another. E.G. Gloucester to Oxford. (No I don’t know why) to
“Track and Trace” which was again given over to be centralised. All very well, but can someone on a computer in their house talk to someone in Leicester who doesn’t even speak English? “Track and Trace” should always have been regionalised. Something now starting to happen in places like Manchester as they set up their own “Track and Trace” .
Likewise the “Testing” fiasco, no, don’t start me on the “Testing”…
UK Testing 5th August
The UK government routinely talks about Testing CAPACITY, but surely the ONLY number that really matters and of any importance is the number of tests PROCESSED! The question the government should ask is“Why weren’t the other 178,747 tests done yesterday?”
However, in all this, I think the response of the British People has been remarkable, with one or two exceptions, where I despair, all in all the Great British Public has shown great sense, and remarkable politeness and kindness to each other. Something that I thought that would wear quickly off has remained as the months progress.
The Next Few Months
A lot depends on how well people continue to adhere to the rules about “Washing Hands”, “Distancing”, “Masks” and “Socialising”. All of us need to keep these newfound habits and not let them slip.
Unfortunately, because each part of the UK has different rules, which change frequently, (what happened to Boris’s red lights, or was it defcon 1-5) no-one really knows what rules still apply! So the common man is left doing what seems right…
Number of local Coronavirus cases 5th September
So to the good news….although nationally the UK cases has slowly been rising over the last month from 550 (7D avg) it’s still only 800 (7D avg) even with all the loosening of the rules and does not show any rapid acceleration in numbers. (Cross Fingers!!)
In fact Stinchcombe sits in a large area of less than 2 cases per week. I see no reason why this will not remain the case except where cases are brought into the area from outside by mixing on holiday, or mixing of younger people. (18+)
However, I do see life as it is now continuing until the end of next year. We cannot stop hotspots occuring nationwide, but I do feel positive that the “second wave” can be avoided.
If you are interested, I do suggest you visit the government website for all the latest.
Rigorous testing, contact tracing, symptom tracking, and strict quarantine procedures can help stop the spread of COVID-19 if implemented effectively. However, until enough of the population is immune to the virus so that they cannot pass it on (either through ‘herd immunity’ or widespread vaccination), there will always be the risk of new outbreaks of the disease.
As we move forward in the fight against COVID-19, we have decided to create a registry for all COVID Symptom Study app users who are interested in participating in vaccine trials and other preventative treatments in the future.
Though we won’t be running these studies, having citizen scientists ready to participate will be incredibly valuable to research teams working on vaccines and other simple preventive treatments.
How can you join the registry?
You can join the registry directly through your COVID Symptom Study app.
First, make sure that your app is updated to the latest version. When you next open it up you will be shown a screen asking if you are interested in being contacted when a relevant study becomes available. Select ‘Yes, I am interested’.
We will not share your details with anyone, but will alert you when a relevant study becomes available.
Anyone can join this registry, but we aim to prioritise contacting those who have been regularly using the COVID Symptom Study app.
Please continue to share the app with friends, family, and your local community and encourage them to add their name to our vaccine registry so that we can win the fight against COVID-19.
If you are interested in learning more about vaccine registries through the NIHR, please click here.
Cloth face coverings are an additional step to help slow the spread of COVID-19 when combined with every day preventive actions and social distancing in public settings.
Who should NOT use cloth face coverings: children under age 2, or anyone who has trouble breathing, is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
Cloth face coverings are NOT surgical masks or N95 respirators. Currently, surgical masks and N95 respirators are critical supplies that should be reserved for healthcare workers and other first responders.
Wear your Face Covering Correctly
Wash your hands before putting on your face covering
Put it over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin
Try to fit it snugly against the sides of your face
Make sure you can breathe easily
Wear a Face Covering to Protect Others
Wear a face covering that covers your nose and mouth to help protect others in case you’re infected with COVID-19 but don’t have symptoms
Wear a face covering in public settings when around people who don’t live in your household, especially when it may be difficult for you to stay six feet apart
Wear a face covering correctly for maximum protection
Don’t put the face covering around your neck or up on your forehead
Don’t touch the face covering, and, if you do, wash your hands or use hand sanitizer to disinfect
Follow Everyday Health Habits
Stay at least 2 M away from others
Avoid contact with people who are sick
Wash your hands often, with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds each time
Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available
Take Off Your Cloth Face Covering Carefully, When You’re Home
Untie the strings behind your head or stretch the ear loops
I don’t know how many still follow COVID-19 news but I am one who followsDr. John Campbell on YouTube who is a retired Nurse Teacher and has followed the progression of COVID-19 worldwide since the start.
The reason I like this channel is that it’s full of FACTS! (so hard to come by) and he talks about ALL countries (unlike our so insular media)
He talks like a teacher (which is what he is) and each video is around 20 / 30 mins every couple of days.
But if you really want to know all about COVID-19, and the truth, I recommend this channel
Below are his latest and the first videos on Coronavirus which was back on 26th January 2020, and looking back on what he said then…well, just read some of the comments…“This guy was ahead of the game” , “If just people and governments would have LISTENED to Dr. Campbell back then!!!”
If you want to know all about the virus, just watch his video from 26th January, things haven’t changed that much.
With “Air Bridges” being formed and shops, hairdressers, pubs etc all being open you may be excused in thinking that the COVID-19 pandemic is over, but the new infections per day has just passed the 200k
