On this day in 2020...18th March

WEDNESDAY 18TH MARCH 2020

Facts and figures.

There have been a total of 56,221 people tested in the UK so far.

The number of UK cases of coronavirus has risen by 676, to a total of 2,626.

Sir Patrick Vallance, who is the Chief Scientific Advisor and chair of SAGE (Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies), has said that 20,000 deaths in the UK would be a good outcome, but it could be 250,000. Terrifying figures. Of course, they have no idea.

So far, there have been 8,006 recorded deaths directly due to the virus globally, with over 200,000 cases overall.

Daily news.

Most streets around the UK are pretty deserted, particularly in the centre of London. This will diminish even more I would think. There are likely to be more draconian measures coming our way.

Schools close.

All schools in Scotland and Wales are to close by Friday – it is announced. A press conference at 5 pm will clarify whether England will follow suit. They say that it is a reduction in staff and teachers through illness and self-isolation, forcing them to take this action.

Author’s note. My daughter Lily leaves primary school this year for secondary school, and this will be an odd way to make the transition. It is a shame for her.

The European mainland closes its external borders.

Glastonbury Rock Concert and the Eurovision Song Contest are cancelled.

British holidaymakers are told to leave Spain as soon as possible as they are closing all hotels from Tuesday 24th March 2020.

Food rationing.

Major supermarkets in the UK are restricting certain product lines to three per person, toilet rolls, pasta, and hand sanitiser, for example. Not that you can get sanitiser anywhere. Toilet rolls seem to be the comfort blanket purchase of choice, with people inexplicably buying tons of the stuff. No-one knows why. Perhaps because when anyone coughs, everybody shits their pants!

?5 pm Press Briefing – Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

It has been announced that all schools are to close in England from this coming Friday 20th March. The only difference with England is that they keep some schools open for children of ‘key workers.’ A key worker's definition has not been given yet other than NHS workers, police, and delivery drivers.

All exams are now cancelled, which is problematic, particularly for A level students and universities.

We can work around all of this, I’m sure. Watching the television news, several people seem to be whinging about the impact. Still, it seems, the severity of this crisis hasn’t sunk in and that norms are going to disappear temporarily. We need to realise that normal life will alter significantly in the coming storm. We will just have to sweep up afterwards.

The belated decision to close the schools seems to signify that the government has given up on the prospect of using the dreaded herd immunity and wilfully allowing much of the population to catch this nasty killer virus. We now know that not so many people are asymptomatic as first thought, and indeed younger people are suffering terribly in ICU, and some are dying. It is a non-starter. We need to try to stop it from spreading by avoiding contact. How does that end, though? Until we have a vaccine, we will be tiptoeing around in full protective clothing one assumes!

?Family life.

One of my sons, Chris, is a primary school teacher at a private school. I contacted him, and he said that it looks like he will still be paid, which is a relief for him. They will be supporting the pupils via online activity; at least that is the intention for now.

Harry is laid off from his work in the hospitality sector as he waits to go to university. He is taking auditions to do a degree in acting. These auditions are now via video and online.

My son, Andy, works at the City Hospital in Cancer Research. I worry this takes him closer to the virus when working at the hospital, but he is not on the front line at least. Hospitals are notoriously unhealthy places to visit. You go in with one thing and come out with another, only with this virus, you might not be coming out.

Jackie managed to get her hair done, ahead of the storm; I guess it is essential to try to give ourselves these little boosts and as a practicality. Who knows when we will be able to again? I feel pretty sure that this sort of activity will fall away in the next couple of weeks when we get into the mire of it all. The word is that it will reach its height in ten to twelve weeks, which seems quite a long time away. Maybe they are lulling us?

I have spent the day writing and recording chapter three of ‘Trace and Eliminate’ for my next audiobook. This is quite a lengthy process. I am currently editing ‘Fair Means Or Foul,’ my fourth book, which will be out soon.

Quote of the day:

‘My mother said I must always be intolerant of ignorance but understanding of illiteracy. That some people, unable to go to school, were more educated and more intelligent than college professors.’ – Maya Angelou.