The Numbers
351new deaths, bringing the total to 36,393.
The News
Priti Patel, the Home Secretary did the government briefing today. She really is awful, so insincere and cold. You just can’t believe anything that comes out of her mouth.
The main point of discussion was the introduction, from the 8th of June, of the 14 days quarantine for anyone entering the country. The view is that it will be the kiss of death for the travel and tourism industry, as very few people will be able to go on holiday for 2 weeks and then quarantine for 2 weeks when they get home.
They are planning to police it by requiring people to give a private address where they will isolating and will be carrying out spot checks to ensure compliance. The penalty for non-compliance will be a £1000 fine.
The New Way of Life
Another fairly quite day. Not much to report to be honest. Weather has changed again, very windy and cooler but no rain, which is great.
Last night I went for my permitted 1:1, socially distanced picnic with my daughter. It was lovely! So relaxing to sit and have a chat rather than talking on the doorstep.
M took me over to hers and we walked to a nearby park. I brought a rug which we placed between us to ensure we kept 2 metres apart. We sat on a couple of little beach chairs and had cheese, salami, salad and dips, washed down with some white wine. We cleaned everything with antiseptic wipes when we were finished. Crazy times.
It was a lovely evening, there were just enough people in the park to make us feel safe but not enough to make it crowded. It was mostly other couples and families taking their daily exercise in the evening sunshine.
Our friends who had the antibody tests all tested negative. While I think they are a little surprised and disappointed, they are pleased that they have clearly done a good job of protecting their daughter.
I’m still thinking of taking the test myself. I keep thinking back to the virus I had 10 days or so before lockdown. I’d love to know if I have had it.
I’ve been taking part for many years in a longitudinal, large scale cohort study that looks at the genetics of various diseases. It’s called the UK Biobank study.
This is how it describes itself on its website:
UK Biobank is a national and international health resource with unparalleled research opportunities, open to all bona fide health researchers. UK Biobank aims to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of serious and life-threatening illnesses – including cancer, heart diseases, stroke, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, eye disorders, depression and forms of dementia. It is following the health and well-being of 500,000 volunteer participants and provides health information, which does not identify them, to approved researchers in the UK and overseas, from academia and industry.
They contacted me to ask if I would take part in their Covid-19 sub-study and I was happy to agree. I have to do a finger-prick blood test once a month and send it back to them by post. I won’t ever know the results. That’s always been part of the conditions.
So, today my kit arrived and I have to do the first test on Tuesday the 26th of May.
Today, we had a slow start. We’re both quite tired after all our efforts over the past few days. I cleaned the kitchen and cooked our Friday night pre-quiz curry. Tonight we’re having paneer pakora, lamb and spinach curry, dal and mushroom pilau rice.
I cleaned the kitchen and went for a walk in the afternoon.
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