UK Covid death toll

[baggy1]

Another within the 'average' range week (up to 7th August) but unfortunately 443 more than the 5 year average which has broke the run of 'below' average weeks and wiped out the previous 3 weeks of gains. In comparison to 2019 though the weekly figure is lower by about 180, again statistically not really meaningful.

Against the 5 year average in E&W there are now 53k excess deaths and compared to 2019 that figure is 61k.

Again the patients admitted to hospital figure is steady as is the patients in hospital and those on ventilators. Those latest dates available vary from 14th to 17th August but pretty much up to date.

Figures wise everything is as normal with the restrictions in place. Kids going back to school is going to be the biggest test as we know that when they get together they catch and spread everything. The hospitals are preparing for a 'second wave' but that is only prudent to do so and you would hope after the early part of the year that is from lessons learned rather than specific threats.

[Protheroe]

91 per cent of England's inhabitants (that's 51million people) live in neighbourhoods where there hasn't been a single recorded Covid-19 case in the last 4 weeks.

That includes 716,000 Brummies - yet the whole of Birmingham is threatened by further lockdown. Someone wake me up please.

[JOK]

91 per cent of England's inhabitants (that's 51million people) live in neighbourhoods where there hasn't been a single recorded Covid-19 case in the last 4 weeks.

That includes 716,000 Brummies - yet the whole of Birmingham is threatened by further lockdown. Someone wake me up please.

Must be a very clever little virus. How does it know not to cross man made geographical boundaries? 

Or do you think the people are so conscientious that if their pubs, mosques, illegal raves and street parties are all shut down, they won’t think about going a mile down the road to another borough that’s not in lockdown?

[Derek Hardballs]

[baggy1]

91 per cent of England's inhabitants (that's 51million people) live in neighbourhoods where there hasn't been a single recorded Covid-19 case in the last 4 weeks.

That includes 716,000 Brummies - yet the whole of Birmingham is threatened by further lockdown. Someone wake me up please.

I think it's safe to say that no-one (maybe apart from the press who like a good scare story) have said that the whole of Birmingham is threatened by lockdown. If anything there will be local lockdowns but it would show how useless the bunch of morons you helped into power really are if that did happen.

We're at a point now where we can see that the relaxations haven't pushed the hospital admissions up and therefore we can move to the next relaxation which will be next week when the kids go back to school. The kids aren't the risk there, it will be the transmission from them to others so there need to be some clear guidelines as to how parents should deal with their little loves out of school - i.e. don't send them straight down to grandmas because they need to get down the saracens head.

There also needs to be some clear guidelines on how teachers, and all other adult staff, are protected with this next step. This hasn't gone away, we are just having to tentatively take the next steps.

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91 per cent of England's inhabitants (that's 51million people) live in neighbourhoods where there hasn't been a single recorded Covid-19 case in the last 4 weeks.

That includes 716,000 Brummies - yet the whole of Birmingham is threatened by further lockdown. Someone wake me up please.

Must be a very clever little virus. How does it know not to cross man made geographical boundaries? 

Or do you think the people are so conscientious that if their pubs, mosques, illegal raves and street parties are all shut down, they won’t think about going a mile down the road to another borough that’s not in lockdown?

The illegal raves are occurring because the dealers need a marketplace and that is where that particular drive comes from.

[baggy1]

Another week of roughly average figures of deaths for the time of year (Week 33 to the 14th August) in England and Wales. Slightly up on the 5YA and 2019, with by about 300 - again within the range of deaths expected at this time of year.

It's becoming clear that the virus is having less effect on the population at this point in time despite largely getting back to normal. Kids going back to school next week is the next big step and carrying on with the washing of hands, social distancing approach to dealing with this is obviously key.

Hospital admissions are still happening but at a low level which is stabilised at around 100 a day for the UK (latest data to the 21st Aug), and numbers on ventilators is stubbornly constant at around 60 in England and a handful elsewhere.

All in all the spread appears very limited despite the worries of local breakouts and measures being put in place. It also appears that the threat of lockdown in areas is driving as a reminder to people to do the right thing by keeping up the measures needed.

[Protheroe]

91 per cent of England's inhabitants (that's 51million people) live in neighbourhoods where there hasn't been a single recorded Covid-19 case in the last 4 weeks.

That includes 716,000 Brummies - yet the whole of Birmingham is threatened by further lockdown. Someone wake me up please.

Must be a very clever little virus. How does it know not to cross man made geographical boundaries? 

Or do you think the people are so conscientious that if their pubs, mosques, illegal raves and street parties are all shut down, they won’t think about going a mile down the road to another borough that’s not in lockdown?

There are 2 (TWO) people in ICU across Birmingham's acute hospitals. There is no reason whatsoever for any form of further restriction anywhere in the city.

[JOK]

91 per cent of England's inhabitants (that's 51million people) live in neighbourhoods where there hasn't been a single recorded Covid-19 case in the last 4 weeks.

That includes 716,000 Brummies - yet the whole of Birmingham is threatened by further lockdown. Someone wake me up please.

Must be a very clever little virus. How does it know not to cross man made geographical boundaries? 

Or do you think the people are so conscientious that if their pubs, mosques, illegal raves and street parties are all shut down, they won’t think about going a mile down the road to another borough that’s not in lockdown?

There are 2 (TWO) people in ICU across Birmingham's acute hospitals. There is no reason whatsoever for any form of further restriction anywhere in the city.

There are 2 (Two [no need to shout]) people admitted, seriously injured,  to Birmingham hospitals per day due to RTAs. Not forgetting the 30 killed in Brum in a year. Would you suggest we do away with all Road Traffic laws where the accidents occur less?

[Protheroe]

There are 2 (Two [no need to shout]) people admitted, seriously injured,  to Birmingham hospitals per day due to RTAs. Not forgetting the 30 killed in Brum in a year. Would you suggest we do away with all Road Traffic laws where the accidents occur less?

That's about the most fatuous comparison yet.

I've argued for nothing but optimal protection measures throughout this who debacle. Those at risk of serious illness ought to take greater precautions. The healthy working age population ought to go about their business as usual, and kids should never have been stopped from going to school.

The oppotunity cost of the prevailing policy is far too high in economic, social, educational and (increasingly) in health terms. Having lost both my parents to late-diagnosed cancer - just wait until the shit starts hitting the fan on that one.

[baggy1]

I'm not certain what you two are actually arguing about, there are very few restrictions now - what are you hoping to happen further. People are back at work, schools will be back next week, shops, pubs, restaurants are open.