https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EXa-LPCXQAAKX_g?format=jpg&name=medium

Just got a reply from my MP. To be fair even though the same em will be going to a number of people at least he (or his staff) managed to identity the one which addresses the questions I asked.   A big improvement on Gauke who would send random garbage back.

Dear Brian,

Thank you for emailing me with your concerns.

There are indications that the measures we have put in place have been successful in slowing down the spread of the virus. Overall, however, we still don’t have the infection rate down as far as we need to and any easing on the lockdown will be incredibly gradual.

That means that any change to our social distancing measures now would risk a significant increase in the spread of the virus. That would threaten a second peak of the virus, and substantially increase the number of deaths.

I know many people are concerned about the long term impact of these measures on our economy which is why we need to set out a roadmap of how we will get our country back up and running. During this difficult time for the country, we recognise the extreme disruption the necessary actions are having on people’s lives, their businesses, their jobs and the nation’s economy which is why the Chancellor produced a programme of support both for workers and for business, and we’ll do everything we can to ensure people can pay their bills, stay in their home and put food on their table.

An inappropriate, early relaxation of the measures the Government has put in place would do more damage to human life and the economy over a longer period, as it would undo the progress made to date on slowing the spread of the virus, and, as a result, would require an even longer period of the more restrictive social distancing measures.

We know this will not be a short battle – beating Coronavirus will take months, not weeks so no changes will ever be drastic. Further action that might be required is under constant review and guidelines will only change if evidence shows it is able to.

Thank you again for contacting me.

Best wishes,

Gagan

Gagan Mohindra MP
Member of Parliament for South West Hertfordshire

Fair enough, but I'm managing to reply to emails so why couldn't they? I mean six weeks! Plus their help lines just didn't work.

Jockdown? 

I also agree with the rest of your post. 

You know things are bad when a right winger like Morgan starts criticising you.

But in that context “earlier confirmed cases have been found in the US and Europe, it will be more and more difficult for the Trump administration to accuse China of originating the novel coronavirus” That is a true statement because the earlier it was found makes patient zero less clear. However it almost certainly did originate in China, but not deliberately. It is now almost proven beyond doubt (UK,USA, European Intelligence agencies, worldwide scientists based on it's genome and so on) so they are more than entitled to defend themselves against slander from idiots like Pompeo. If we cooperated with them instead of name calling we are more likely to get the truth, although I thought that was pretty clear now anyway.

Daily slides

New tests

New cases

Hospitals

ICU 

All settings deaths with a rolling 7-day average

........ and I bet if you did an age profile for non-covid deaths for 2019 it would be a close match to that. Older people die more. Most likely the under 45 would be higher due to suicides, RTA, stabbings etc but I bet if it was morbity for dying of an illness it would be very similar.

On that you might want to let a lot of young people out but with most other illnesses (maybe bar flu) the young don't kill a high proportion of the old.

Regional data for new cases today in England

The 7 English regions 

• London +142 (0.6%) 25,499


• Midlands +300 (1.4%) 21,743


• North West +600 (2.8%)21600


• North East and Yorkshire +521 (2.6%) 20,393


• South East1 +87 (1.0%) 18,696


• East of England +242 (2.1%) 11,632


• South West +99 (1.5%) 6,825

The 10 local areas with the highest cases

1. Kent +57 (1.4%) 3,968


2. Lancashire +45 (1.5%) 3,055


3. Birmingham +34 (1.1%) 3,011


4. Hampshire +25 (0.8%) 2,969


5. Essex +53 (1.9%) 2,778


6. Surrey +16 (0.6%) 2,693


7. Hertfordshire +33 (1.3%) 2,467


8. Sheffield +56 (2.4%) 2,306


9. Cumbria +35 (1.7%) 2,047


10. Staffordshire +37 (1.9%) 1,902

The 10 local areas with the lowest cases

1. Rutland +1 (4.2%) 24


2. North East Lincolnshire +1 (0.7%) 138


3. Isle of Wight +3 (2.0%) 149


4. Torbay 209 - No change


5. Bath and North East Somerset +1 (0.5%) 220


6. Hartlepool +10 (4.4%) 226


7. Bracknell Forest +1 (0.4%) 226


8. Calderdale +2 (0.8%) 262


9. Windsor and Maidenhead +4 (1.5%) 268


10. North Somerset +18 (6.5%) 276

Italy 

• 1,401 new cases


• 274 new deaths

Top 4 rates per 100,000 are now all in urban NE England (Sunderland, Gateshead, Middlesbrough, South Tyneside).

A lot of extra reported cases in NW England - another big daily total for Oldham of 78 following from 100 the other day although there were lower totals in between, maybe some reporting problems. Seems to be a big surge of cases in Salford over the last 5 days too, Wigan as well.

https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-uk-tracker-how-many-cases-are-in-your-area-updated-daily-11956258

Looks to me like they are comparing the old figure (15,000+) which includes N Ireland with a new figure which doesn't include N Ireland. There has still been a significant drop in the number of people in hospital but its not really a fair comparison.

Sir Geoffrey Boycott has it about right IMO:

“People need to keep things in perspective here with this virus,” exclaimed Boycott.

“Yes, it’s sad there’s no cricket being played, but people are dying from this virus and people’s health is much more important.

“People keep talking about the economy and when sport will return, but these things won’t be concerning you if you’re six foot under will they?

https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/cricket/scarborough-was-good-place-finish-my-career-sir-geoffrey-boycott-2845230

Did any of the journalists ask what is happening with antibody tests and why they are taking so long to roll-out? 

You don't know that answer

so any high number of positive tests isn't good regardless 

Nicola S and Boris J giving slightly different messages