COVID-19 Coronavirus and other virus UK and World News Update 29th November 2024

COVID-19 Coronavirus and other virus UK and World News Update 29th November 2024

"I have no idea how to work within a system that accelerates catastrophic risk because people are pi**ed about the COVID pandemic. I have no idea how to convince people who think public health is a form of tyranny that millions of people could die in a flu pandemic."

Professor Angie Rasmussen, virologist at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), University of Saskatchewan.

English virus watch summary from the UK Health Security Agency (HSA):

- Influenza activity increased and has reached low activity levels

- COVID-19 activity remained stable and is at baseline levels

- Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) activity increased is at medium levels

RSV is particularly affecting babies and infants 0-4 years (moderate levels), and children 5-14 (high). The UK also has a pretty big issue with Norovirus right now (sickness tummy bug). 

Stay at home if you are ill... 

Zensu Strategy Board Game Review (Sent By Cheatwell Games) For 2 Players Aged 8+

Long time favourites Cheatwell Games have sent us a new game for review - Zensu. This is a turn-based strategy board game for 2 players aged around 8 or over. It is incredibly simple to play, but, like chess or draughts, it'll take a long while to master...

COVID-19 Coronavirus and other virus UK and World News Update 15th November 2024

 COVID-19 Coronavirus and other virus UK and World News Update 15th November 2024

10,644 deaths were registered in England and Wales, week ending 1 November 2024 (Week 44):

· 13.3% lower than the expected number (1,634 fewer deaths)

· 13.8% involved influenza or pneumonia (1,469 deaths)

· 2.5% involved COVID19 (262 deaths)

Office for National Statistics

The UK HSA have started publishing weekly virus watch reports for England. We currently have lots of RSV, especially in children under 5. COVID and flu are pretty stable. 

During the UK Autumn budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced significant extra money for the NHS - £25.7 BILLION over the next 2 years.

It includes:

- funding to reduce waiting times by supporting the NHS to deliver an extra 40,000 elective appointments a week. This is part of the "plan to make sure patients wait no longer than 18 weeks from their referral to getting treatment". (Which would be utterly amazing if it ever happens.)

- £1.5 billion to fund new surgical hubs which will help build capacity for over 30,000 additional procedures, and more than 1.25 million additional diagnostic tests (which use CT or MRI scanners) 

- £70 million to invest in new radiotherapy machines to improve cancer treatment 

- Over £2 billion for NHS technology and digital improvements to increase productivity and save staff time 

- Over £600 million increase in local government spending to support social care  

- £26 million to open new mental health crisis centres  

"Looking beyond this Budget, the government will publish a 10-year health plan for the NHS in spring 2025. This will set out the long-term vision for fixing the NHS."

Well that all sounds incredibly promising... as long as they can get, and keep, the staff to deliver it. 

Confidence in Denim: How to Feel Your Best in Your Favourite Pair of Jeans (Brand Collaboration)

Confidence in Denim: How to Feel Your Best in Your Favourite Pair of Jeans (Brand Collaboration)

If there's one wardrobe staple that we can all unanimously agree on, it's jeans. The quintessential piece of clothing that effortlessly fits into every style scenario, whether you're dressing up for a weekend bash or dressing down for a casual coffee meet. 

When you don a pair of well-fitted jeans, it instils an undeniable sense of confidence within you. However, feeling and looking your best in your favourite denim requires more than just picking out a random pair from the shelf. It demands an understanding of your body type, pinpointing the right style, and accessorising it appropriately. 

COVID-19 Coronavirus and other virus UK and World News Update 1st November 2024

COVID-19 Coronavirus and other virus UK and World News Update 1st November 2024

In the week ending 18th October, 241 people in England and Wales had COVID listed as their cause of death. This is the highest since February, and reflective of the recent wave of infection. 1,447 people had pneumonia or influenza listed as cause of death. 

Overall deaths were still down on the expected number by a massive 10.8%.

The better news is that based on todays figures, hospitalisations (England data) have peaked and are decreasing.

COVID-19 Coronavirus and other virus UK and World News Update 11th October 2024

COVID-19 Coronavirus and other virus UK and World News Update 11th October 2024

England's hospital admissions with COVID rose by 69% over September, so the wave did continue, and alas it seems it's not peaked yet. Cases are a mystery, as hardly anyone tests, but I know it is running around our local area at the moment, which is a lot rarer than it was when we were in Manchester.  

"10,096 deaths were registered in England and Wales, week ending 27 September 2024 (Week 39):

· 10.7% lower than the expected number (1,215 fewer deaths)

· 12.8% involved influenza or pneumonia (1,291 deaths)

· 1.4% involved COVID19 (143 deaths)"

It's absolutely great that we have sustained the lower losses of life, but 143 people still officially died from COVID last week - it really isn't 'over'.
There is a very important and somewhat grounding point to note, as Stuart McDonald of the COVID Actuaries explains:
"Mortality rates for young adults are still higher than any recent pre-pandemic year.
The CMI quarterly mortality monitor published yesterday shows that only 2021 and 2023 had higher death rates than we’ve seen so far in 2024."
We are still losing far too many people too early. It's hard to pull apart exactly why, but cardiovascular mortality is the main driver - heart and blood conditions such as heart attacks, strokes, aneurysm etc. These are areas we know can often sustain damage from COVID infection. 

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COVID-19 Coronavirus and other virus UK and World News Update 27th September 2024

COVID-19 Coronavirus and other virus UK and World News Update 27th September 2024

The UK's 'cumulative mortality' continues to run at a level lower than would be expected historically. Summed up by COVID Actuary Stuart McDonald:

"Age-standardised death rates this year have tracked the best year on record (2019) very closely, except during the Covid-19 waves in June and July when death rates were a bit higher."

It's a very sad victory, but after so many people died early due to COVID, we would expect death rates to be lower than averages once stability returns. Last year it was clear that hadn't happened, this year looks more promising (unless XEC ruins it). 

COVID-19 Coronavirus and other virus UK and World News Update 13th September 2024

COVID-19 Coronavirus and other virus UK and World News Update 13th September 2024

The UK had a fairly small but significant COVID wave over early Summer due to the arrival of the FLIRT variants. As expected it then dropped down during the last few weeks of the English school Summer holidays, but it has started to creep back up already. No rest for the wicked. 

This peak and drop was reflected in hospital admissions with COVID, which peaked in England in July at their highest level since January, but fell by 45% in August.

COVID-19 Coronavirus and other virus UK and World News Update 30th August 2024

COVID-19 Coronavirus and other virus UK and World News Update 30th August 2024

Children in England and Wales will be going back to school any time now, and parents are being reminded that we have a measles outbreak in the UK.

It has slowed down over Summer, but there were still 153 cases in the 4 weeks to 5th August (mostly in London), and 2,278 cases across England since the start of the year.

Measles is nasty and almost entirely preventable by vaccination. Babies, infants and people with less robust immune systems are most at risk of serious illness, permanent damage and death. By taking your child for their MMR, or catching up with your own, you aren't only protecting one person, you are protecting all of those they come into contact with. The MMR has been considered safe and used around the world since 1971 (1988 in the UK).