7.11.2020 The UK becomes the first country in Europe to pass 50,000 COVID deaths
Total deaths: 50,023 / Daily deaths: 388 / Daily cases: 18,529
It is the fifth most badly affected country in the world – after the United States, Brazil, India and Mexico – and the first in Europe to have sustained more than 50,000 deaths from COVID-19.
Since the beginning of November, it has recorded the worst rate of increase in infections since COVID testing began. There were days when more than 30,000 new patients were confirmed, and the numbers were shooting up far more quickly than during the first wave.
I found it hard to believe that barely two months ago we had been enjoying the “Eat Out to Help Out Campaign”!
The only positive note was struck by talk about the development of a new vaccine. In the second half of November, I listened to Health Minister Matt Hancock inform the country that “the vaccine will be ready next month.” I must admit to taking this announcement ‘with a pinch of salt’…..
2.12.2020 Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine judged safe for use in UK
Total deaths: 60,985 / Daily deaths: 382 / Daily cases: 16,424
The British government has approved the world’s first en masse use of a new coronavirus vaccine jointly developed by Pfizer and Biontech of Germany. It is said to protect 95% of vaccinated people from COVID-19, and the vaccination program will give priority to frontline doctors and nurses and to the elderly.
Creating a vaccine usually takes about ten years, but Pfizer and Biontech managed to do it in just ten MONTHS – the fastest in history! But due to this very speed, some people were worried about the effectiveness and side effects of the vaccine. On balance however, it seemed that the news of this “start of vaccination” was received quite favorably in the UK.
And on 8th December, the following week, right ‘on schedule’, a 90-year-old woman became the first person in the UK to vaccinated – a fact which was reported ad nauseam by the news media.
In addition, the second lockdown was lifted on the day as promised , and the “Tier system” was resumed.
15.12.2020 ‘New variant’ of coronavirus identified in England
Total deaths: 66,639 / Daily deaths: 451 / Daily cases: 33,843
Before any of us had a chance to feel relieved by this positive turn of events, a new piece of horrifying news came in.
It was confirmed that a ‘new variant’ of coronavirus was spreading rapidly in London and its surrounding areas. At this point, we were told, the characteristics and dangers of the coronavirus mutant were not known; experts said that it was “under investigation”. A few days after the discovery of this variant’, it was reported to be 70% more infectious than the original and almost totally “out of control”.
As a result, London was placed on an even higher alert level – Tier 4.
Stay at Home – you cannot leave or be outside the place you are living in, unless you have a reasonable excuse. You cannot meet other people indoors, including over the Christmas and New Year period.
I am not at all sure what the difference between Tier 4 and ‘total lockdown’ actually is. What is abundantly clear however is that it came as a bitter blow to Londoners who were hoping to spend time with loved ones over Christmas.
One after another, European countries responded by banning travel from the United Kingdom, and – unprecedentedly – the transportation of people and goods between the United Kingdom and the continent was temporarily halted.
It was around this time that frequent reporting of the latest situation in the United Kingdom began in Japan.
25.12.2020 The death toll from COVID-19 in the UK exceeds 70,000
Total deaths: 70,436 / Daily deaths: 570 / Daily cases: 32,725
On Christmas day, the BBC News reported that the death toll caused by COVID-19 in the UK had reached 70,000. Moreover, on 28 December the UK recorded 41,385 new COVID cases, on 29 December it recorded 53,135 and on 31 December it marked 55,892 (Daily deaths: 964) – the highest daily rise since the pandemic began.
This state of affairs is becoming just another “Usual Day”. Infections are spreading at an alarming rate, not only in the United Kingdom but throughout Europe, where the “new variant of coronavirus” is also starting to be found; several large cities have entered into a state of complete lockdown.
Even in Japan, immigration restrictions and inspection systems have been strengthened by means of so called “waterfront measures”. Nevertheless it seems that some travellers returning from overseas have already entered the country bringing the ‘mutant strain’ with them and have been quarantined accordingly.
One can only hope that such ‘returnees’ will not be subject to discrimination.
In conclusion
Looking back on the year from January 2020 to December 2020, I have described day by day the actual situation in the UK, focusing on the key events. So what will the outcome be?
According to the BBC, “It will take another two years for the world to recover.” At least until then, it seems that social distancing, hygiene management, testing for infection, and tracking will all continue to be necessary.
Nowadays, one frequently hears the words “New Normal“; it’s ‘normal’ to wear a mask, to repeatedly disinfect your hands, to do things online as much as possible, and to minimize contact with people wherever you go. Undoubtedly these are “the most important things to do now” – to continue these practices to avoid becoming infected and in turn passing the infection on to others.
The crisis continues, and as the months go by there will almost certainly be a Part 3 and even a Part 4 to this series…………