Good News part 11 - Picnics galore as we head into spring

[OrangeBananaFish]

Hope no-one minds me starting this. Apologies if another has started too. Please can someone add the pretty pictures.

Useful links:

coronavirus.data.gov.uk

www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

www.covidmessenger.com Thanks to LittleOwl for all her hard work!

ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations

www.omnicalculator.com/health/vaccine-queue-uk

NB Please don’t take this too seriously- it depends what vaccine delivery speed and uptake you estimate so it’s not written in stone.

Please note, this is a thread to share good news and for wobblers to be reassured. Doomploppers will be met with scorn and derision!

Oh I thought we had a health miracle going on there for a moment

@FourTeaFallOut

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/03/04/number-covid-hospital-patients-drops-10000-first-time-since/

Hospital patients drop to under 10k from 34k at its peak.

Excellent news

Government site is still on 12k for in hospital with covid but that is dated 2nd. Wish they would update that daily too.

Anyway brilliant news

Not sure if this has already been reported on this thread but some more news from the coronavirus good news twitter page:

In the UK:

7 day average of tests conducted: up 10.5% ⇧

7 day average of new cases: down 34.5% ⇩

I wonder why testing has increased? Is that from surge testing in areas looking for variants? Or something else?

Are the swab tests being done by secondary children included?

Yes, some are doing tests in advance of the return rather than on return. Do the lateral flow tests count towards the total?

My two DS had lateral flow tests at school yesterday and today, in preparation for going back to school on Monday.

The tests are registered with the NHS, and we've already had the (negative) results confirmed to us via a text and email from the NHS, so yes, I would assume that they are included in the daily testing totals.

I suppose some people might do a lateral flow test without registering it or uploading the result, but our school is definitely registering them all.

No positive tests at all in the year groups done yesterday (which was half of the school).

Oh, that's interesting. I had a swab with the NHS on Friday in advance of an appointment on Monday and I was told I'd get a call if it came back positive and that was the last I heard of it.

It's good that the lateral flows feed in to the data - it should be useful.

Our school is running 7 days straight of tests before returning (including this w/e).

My secondary dc are both being tested on Tuesday and then straight to class following a test result.

@FourTeaFallOut

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/03/04/number-covid-hospital-patients-drops-10000-first-time-since/

Hospital patients drop to under 10k from 34k at its peak.

That's HUGE! Hospital staff must really appreciate that difference (I hope so anyway, they were under such massive strain 2 months ago)

I have been very heartened that there are currently al ot of teenagers posting on twitter that they want to wear masks when they go back to school to keep their teachers well and not spread infection around their schools.

Good for them!

Go those young people!

DS has had 2 LFT this week and again as said above I have had the results by text and email. I have also ordered some for me and DH and they were negative which I also updated on the NHS website. It was a bit of a faff with a few questions so people might not always upload the results, but hopefully a good proportion will. So there was an extra 5 tests completed this week (DSx2 at school, me, DH and DD1) all negative and uploaded to the NHS.

Sorry should have said DS had his 2 LFT through his school before the return on Monday. DD1 is having to wait until Tuesday before hers (year 8 and a much bigger school so not as prepared)

Again so yes the LFT for secondary school children and the families of school children/workers should be included in the number of tests used.

Sorry for the multiple posts.

My 2 teenagers are absolutely up for mask wearing. To be fair it’s not just altruism, it’s a bonus if you are at the self conscious adolescent phase! 😂

Aw, bless them. No - I have the other end of the spectrum - complete apathy about their personal appearance. I suppose that's just as well with the comedy volumous hair they are sporting. When do the barbers open?

My year 7 DD is totally fine with the masks. She has been going to school some days (key workers) and has been wearing one through all lessons. She says they're hot, and they move when she talks, but it's ok. They just get on with it. She's having 2 tests next week, and can't wait for all her friends to be back in school properly.

I got the home tests they want us to do that. I ordered yesterday and they arrived this morning. So that was very quick.

Have gone a bit Mrs Bucket though. They came in a box with NHS Track and Trace printed all over it. 😱😂😂😂

It does seem uncivilized that they are all going back with no haircut, shoe or uniform places open.

DS has big hair. He gets that from me. I’m too unskilled to attempt a trim.

I’m so glad it’s now and not after Easter

Tg it’s 8th March, I remember all the scaremongering posts re waiting ages

We got some lovely Startrite shoes fron here www.shoesforkids.co.uk/product-category/shoes-for-girls/?filters=shoe-size[38-39]

and some more summer uniform online.

DS would however very much like a haircut!