Dec 20: Coronavirus 13 Dec - 12 Jan

Sunday 13 December

Day 272

Monday 14 December

Day 273

Luca round. More rain.

New variant of coronavirus (not the first!) identified in the south - London to go into tier 3 from Wednesday.

Tuesday 15 December

Day 274

The relaxation of restrictions at Christmas was questioned as being unwise.

Lots of indignation about losses in hospitality in London area when they go into tier 3 tomorrow. No such worry about Manchester and the north where restrictions have been in place since July or for some areas before that 🙄

506 deaths. 64,908 total.

Biden formally declared as President Elect.

Wednesday 16 December

Day 275

London, most of Essex and parts of Herts now in tier 3.

Nearly 140,000 have received vaccine in first 7 days.

All schools and shops closed in Germany.

'Narrow path to Brexit agreement' said EU President Ms Von der Leyen.

Thursday 17 December

Day 276

Over two thirds of UK under tier 3 from Saturday.

No change for Manchester.

Population of UK 65m but it is expected that only 21m will have had the 2 vaccine doses by the end of 2021.

Macron isolating with cv symptoms.

532 deaths. 66,052 total.

Furlough scheme extended to end of April.

Next review in two weeks.

Carol out of hospital.

Friday 18 December

Day 277

Manchester still in tier 3 but other areas with higher rates in tier 2!

R number has risen above 1 again.

Third lockdown of 6 weeks to start in Northern Ireland on Boxing Day.

489 deaths. 66,541total.

Schools say it will be impossible to deliver testing for all 5.5m secondary pupils before their return in January.

Saturday 19 December

Day 278

Boris introduced a tier 4 and put London and most of the south east in it.

Luca opened one of his Christmas presents - it would probably have ended up back here anyway 🤣 He happily played with it all day.

Family quiz.

Sunday 20 December

Day 278

Huge furore over the new covid rules down south 'christmas is cancelled' etc, etc. Try 5 months of it!

New variant of the virus discovered - 71% more transmissible.

Slight rise in cases in Manchester.

JP did his last run for charity. He has raised around £1,500 raised for Bury hospice.

France stopped all shipping through Dover for 48 hours.

Monday 21 December

Day 280

New virus strain spreading rapidly in Kent.  Over 40 countries suspended flights. Cv variant identified in many countries.

John worried about Carol - paramedics out. All as ok as it can be.

215 deaths. 67,616 total.

Aunt May happy to be out shopping.

Coronavirus test at Radcliffe before I go to Worksop.

Over half a million people in UK have now had the vaccine. 65.5m to go then. No pressure 🙄

Saturn and Jupiter align. First time since 1623.

Tuesday 22 December

Day 281

Huge queues around Port of Dover despite government saying all was under control. Hauliers given very little support with food and services. 

Luca had not yet worked out the the coins were chocolate 🤣... apparently he has now.. 😁 

Around 3,000 lorries now in jams at Dover.

Wednesday 23 December

Day 282

Ban lifted by France and lorry drivers allowed to cross channel if their cv test is negative.

Over to Worksop to see Carol. Emotional but nice. Presents all wrapped for her and hair washed.

Got cv test result - all good.

Thought that Brexit trade deal was  agreed - but it seems not yet!. 🤔

Luca got socks and a sheep in his gagsvent - and asked 'where cow?' 🤣 There were a lot of cows in that bag lol 🤣

Another cv variant announced - originating in south Africa?

More tier changes from boxing day. Manchester to stay in tier 3 atm.

Thursday 24 December

Day 283

Our Christmas elf 🥰

Had my hair cut.

Figures rising again in Bury.

The Moreno household opened some Christmas presents. Luca loved his scooter.

Watched Luca opening his presents through the window.

Sibling chat. Cathryn couldn't get signal.

Christmas jim jams were a success!

Some sort of last minute trade deal agreed.

Friday 25 December

Day 284

Beautiful Christmas sky but -2 degrees outside.

.. and a magnificent pink cloud rainbow from Holcombe Hill over to the rooftops.

Saturday 26 December

Day 285

More areas moved into tier 4 and some other areas moved up a tier. Manchester stayed the same.

😍😍😍

Cv rates in Bury still rising 🙄

Sunday 27 December

Day 286

Walk up Holcombe Hill - spells of sleety snow!

This boy.. 😍😍😍 

Vaccine rollout started across Europe.

Monday 28 December

Day 287

Lots of baking ready for tomorrow. 

Luisa sent me a message to say that she was just setting off to leave some things on my doorstep. 'But you probably knew that already.. ' she said '..as Luca's just phoned you on his toothbrush!'.. 🤣😍🤣

More patients now in hospitals than at the peak in April.

357 deaths. 71,109 total.

Tuesday 29 December

Day 288

Another record day of over 53,000 cv cases. Hospitals close to breaking point.

Military personnel to help with mass testing for schools. Calls for start of term to be delayed as the new cv strain is more infectious.

414 deaths. 71,567 total.

Over to Worksop for afternoon tea with Carol. 

She was very tired but after tablets she managed to sit with us and ate a reasonable tea little by little with Julie persuading her.

Wednesday 30 December

Day 289

Walked into Bury - very foggy and slippy.

Oxford Astra-Zeneca vaccine cleared for use.

Brexit trade deal signed and voted through the House of Commons.

981 deaths - highest since April.

Thursday 31 December

Day 290

Moved into tier 4. Bassetlaw too so no trips to Retford or Worksop.

First dose of the vaccine will be given to as many as possible then the second dose can be given up to 12 weeks later - so many more can be vaccinated. Start Monday.

Start of term may delayed for many children. Chaotic 😜

Over 55,000 new cv cases - another record unfortunately.

Walk in the snow.

Quiet new year 

Friday 1 January 2021

Day 291

Fourth day of over 50,000 new cv cases.

Start of term for London primary schools now to be delayed. Another u turn.

Saturday 2 January

Day 292

Teaching unions backing closure of ALL schools and remote learning.

More than 50,000 new cases for the fifth consecutive day (over 57,000 - new high).

Nightingale hospital in London to be reopened.

Sunday 3 January

Day 293

Over 50,000 more new cases and 454 deaths.

One quarter of all cv cases in the north are of the new strain.

Monday 4 January

Day 294

Full lockdown in Scotland from tonight. Wales following suit with closing schools - already in a full lockdown.

Rollout of the Oxford vaccine began. Patients now to get second dose after 12 weeks rather than 3 so that more people can be vaccinated.

Took Monday club tea round. Lovely to see Molly back.

Julie had a good day with Carol.

Huge increase in hospital admissions with many younger patients - as Ema has seen at her hospital.

Over 58,000 new cases.

Some statistics...

407 deaths. 75,431 total.

Whole country put into full lockdown on Wednesday. Usual Boris mixed message with little clarity but the NHS close to being overwhelmed so needed to be done. All hopes pinned on the vaccines.

Schools closed and there will be no exams. Once again another massive government u turn after declaring schools were safe (well those in the north!!) then closing them after one day!!

Tuesday 5 January

Day 295

Still went over to Worksop. May not get chance again for a long time. Got Carol out for a short walk though she went straight to bed when she got in. She enjoyed it though.

Nearly 61,000 new cases. 830 deaths. More than 2% of the population (1 in 50) infected.

Wednesday 6 January

Day 296

Happy Kings Day!

BTEC exams still to go ahead although GCSE and A levels have been cancelled.

Over 60,000 new cases and more than 1,000 deaths - more grim records. Epicentre is London where cv admissions have doubled in two weeks.  77,346 total deaths.

Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol building to try to stop Biden's election approval.

Thursday 7 January

Day 297

Four people died in Trump debacle last night and Trump suspended from Twitter and Facebook. Calls for invocation of 25th amendment or second impeachment.

Another grey day with a bit of snow.

All Manchester numbers increasing again.

50% more cv patients in hospital now than during the first wave.

Friday 8 January

Day 298

1,325 deaths. Highest ever number of deaths since 21 April (1,224).  Over 68,000 new cases. 

London declared major incident and said cv was out of control.

US Moderna vaccine approved for use. 

Storm Filomena dumped loads of snow on Madrid and closed airport, trains etc. Michelle's flight ok but stuck in Madrid.

Four deaths from snow related incidents.

Another death from the Trump riots.

Saturday 9 January

Day 299

Trump banned permanently from Twitter. Impeachment process started again.

Drop in lunches.

Family quiz.

Sunday 10 January

Day 300

Tía died. 

Close to capacity with cv cases.

Temporary morgues set up in Surrey.

Monday 11 January

Day 301

Ema had her vaccine.

Covid hospital admissions rose by 80% since Christmas - and 30% over the past week. NHS facing the worst crisis in living memory.

Mask wearing in supermarkets being imposed more strictly.

Lovely Christmas Monday club tea from Luisa.

7 mass vaccination centres opened.

Tuesday 12 January

Day 302

More fines predicted for cv rule breakers.

Sunshine for a change - but very cold.

Interesting statistics.

Trump called second impeachment process against him a 'witch hunt'.

Peak of pandemic expected in about four weeks so lockdown expected to be in place at least until that date. But vaccinations should be well underway by then.