NEWS: From the North

That sounds about right - M.E.N. reporting has seen better days

 

Manchester New Years Eve:
(Manchester Evening News)

Deserted streets and empty pubs... a very different New Year's Eve in Manchester

 

'The Guardian'
Greater Manchester police issued more than 100 fixed penalty notices for Covid regulation breaches during a busy night for the force.
The incidents included a rave at a building in an industrial estate in Wigan, several house parties across the * Greater Manchester * area, and a pub in Stockport that breached tier 4 rules by continuing to serve customers.
Chris Sykes, the assistant chief constable of Greater Manchester police, said: “I’m sure the right-thinking majority of our residents will join me in condemning this irresponsible behaviour, which puts lives at risk.”
New Year's Eve revellers fined by police for breaking UK Covid rules

 

Not a good start.

 

It seems, (be it sadly or through - because of the way of reporting) "The only way is UP"
This is every confirmed case of Covid in the North West on Sunday, January 3, 2021

 

And then there's the distinct possibility of Tier 5
(Speaking on the Andrew Marr Show this morning, Boris Johnson said ...)
Boris Johnson warns tier restrictions 'probably about to get tougher'
* If the M.E.N. can believed

 

Not to be a conspiracy theorist, but .....

Some of these percentage rises (51%, 65%) seem ... questionable
The M.E.N. Headline:-
"These are the latest coronavirus infection rates across Greater Manchester..
A) - Our region has seen a 36% increase in cases week on week, and a sharper increase than England's
B) - despite our overall rate still being lower than the national average"
As the figure for England is 23%, how can we be lower?
If the overall rate is over a longer period, then figures/results can depend on how long that period is, and down to the accuracy of recording and/or perceived reckoning
Hmm Maths, the manipulation of numbers

 

And -(finally) = Lockdown.:
Provision of Vaccine is Key - One only hopes that Speed does not over-ride Safety provision.
The hope is that it will work and that a roll-over is practically possible.
With an estimated date of Mid/late Feb for initial roll out, (when a review will take place) there is a hope of better days ahead - though given that the (now not so new) strain of virus seems to be looking towards that of Crichtons novel, by that time - such a review itself, may need revising - one thing is certain - This, is far from over.

 

Epic spoken word shows why the North is the best