Global Cases 1,284,665
Global Deaths 70,320
UK Cases 47,806
UK Deaths 621
The Worldometers site have added a Tests per Million Population column to their spreadsheet which makes interesting reading, in the countries who are currently reporting the highest numbers:
Italy – 11,436
Germany – 10,962
Spain – 7,593
USA – 5,355
France – 3,436
UK – 2,880
Iran – 2,214
It wil be interesting when this is all over to look at what the impact of the different strategies has been and hopefully learn some lessons for the future, in case this ever happens again:
To herd. or not to herd? To lockdown, or not to lockdown? To test, or not to test?
It is odd how quickly we all seem to have adapted to this new way of life. Death rates of 600 and 700 a day, falling from our tongues without an appropriate emotional reaction to the horror of it all.
At the end of our first three weeks, it seems like a good moment to reflect on what is good and not so good about being in isolation.
The not so good things about it are:
- not being able to see or have cuddles with the grandchildren
- feeling a bit detached from what is going on in the world outside
- eating and drinking more than is good for us
- trying to find a safe and easy way of getting our shopping done
- a growing anxiety about when and how this is all going to end
Some positive things about it are:
- enjoying each others company and supporting each other through this
- getting out for a bike ride every day
- experimenting in the kitchen
- talking to friends and family more than we usually do
- catching up with people we haven’t spoken to for a while
- seeing young families going out for walks together
I’m sure there are more but these are the first few that spring to mind.
So, today I spent the morning working on the second draft of my NYC Short Story. I’m feeling much happier with it now.
I cooked us both a substantial Sunday Lunch of Roast Beef, Yorkshire Puddings, and Gravy, with Roast Potatoes, Maple Roast Parsnips, Ratatouille and Broccoli, followed by Maple and Walnut Pudding with Homemade Vanilla Custard. I’m really enjoying taking the time to be creative in the kitchen, but we are both gaining a bit of weight, in spite of our daily bike rides. I don’t think were alone there, but we must cycle further and eat and drink less in Week 4!
After lunch, I headed back into the office to do a final edit and polish on my story with a bit of help from my friend the proof-reader. I submitted it at about 7pm, several hours before the deadline. The results will be announced in May – fingers crossed!
I had a day off from cycling today. Call it a rest day, before we tackle the longer distance tomorrow.
There is talk of outdoor exercise being stopped because of lots of people who are breaking the social distancing rules. I really hope that doesn’t happen. It would be much, much harder to get through the next 9 weeks if we couldn’t get our for our little bike rides!
In the evening, we watched a distinctly average movie called Crossing the Line and the next episode of Race Around the World.
The big news of the day is that the Scottish Chief Medical Officer has been caught and shamed big time for flouting her own Stay at Home guidance, by spending weekends at her holiday home in the countryside. For me, it’s as much about flaunting the fact that she has a second home, when there are millions of people cooped up in tiny flats without gardens or balconies, as it is about spreading the virus.
Boris Johnson has been admitted to hospital. Although they are playing it down, I don’t think that sounds very good. He’s been ill for 10 days. Generally, they are not admitting people unless they are critically ill. Hopefully, they are just being extra cautious because of his position, but then that raises questions about elitism and inequities of access to care. I’m not a fan of Boris or his politics, but I certainly wouldn’t wish him any harm. I genuinely hope he’s ok.
Finally, the Queen addressed the nation tonight. We didn’t watch it ourselves, but it was apparently all very patriotic and rousing with echoes of We’ll Meet Again from the Second World War. I’m sure she means well, but I doubt that the covidiots who are putting the rest of us at risk by ignoring social distancing rules, will be persuaded to change their behaviour by a 93 year old, millionaire who lives in a castle. Apologies for the cynical irreverence but that’s just my personal opinion.
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