U.K. Covid-19: May 2021

And so May arrives
And already the lifting of Restrictions have begun with Liverpool the first 'Northern' City to officially ditch the mask/s Socially interact and Party
Covid: UK clubbers return to Liverpool for trial night - BBC News
The time's seem to be -a-changing

 

Stockport (and Wigan) to travel to Sefton
Covid: Liverpool to stage sold out Blossoms gig as trial for festival season - BBC News

 

Meanwhile - in Manchester
Manchester United fans storm Old Trafford and invade pitch in anti-Glazer protest before Liverpool match - Manchester Evening News

 

SKY SPORTS:
Manchester United anti-Glazer protestors break into Old Trafford and protest on pitch | Football News | Sky Sports
BBC
Manchester United v Liverpool: Kick-off delayed after fans protest on Old Trafford pitch - BBC Sport

 

And... It's OFF
"Following discussion between the Police, The Premier League, Trafford Council and the clubs, our match against Liverpool has been postponed due to safety and security considerations around the protest today. Discussions will now take place with the Premier League on a revised date for the fixture.
- Our fans are passionate about Manchester United, and we completely acknowledge the right to free expression and peaceful protest.
- However, we regret the disruption to the team and actions which put other fans, staff, and the police in danger. We thank the police for their support and will assist them in any subsequent investigations".
Man Utd official statement regarding events at Old Trafford on 2 May 2021 | Manchester United

 

I think that as long as we don't all go mad, the panic is over.

On the plus side, I hope that optional working from home and people being asked to wear masks on crowded public transport and in busy shops during any cold or flue epidemic is here to stay.
We just need to ensure that like parking, local authorities do not turn it into a cash cow.

 

I'm all for Optional WFH, and masks as/when appropriate, but I do share your concern regarding the scenario of 'Cashing in on Covid'

 

Since this started last year, the pollution levels in London have met the European standard for the first time and the reduced demands on public transport could also save millions. In 2019, we had to replace and add 100 new tube trains at a cost of 7.5 million pounds EACH.

 

Interesting reading: =
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the environment - Wikipedia

 

May Lockdown lifed - "They think it's all over ... " - But it's Not !

 

And so -
Matt Hancock has signalled the Government would be prepared to implement a local lockdown in Bolton if one was needed to protect people.
Hancock said “we do not rule that out” when asked about the prospect of specific areas having different restrictions compared to the rest of the country to deal with the risk posed by Covid-19 variants.
He told Sky News’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday: “The approach we’re taking in Bolton and Blackburn is to absolutely pile in testing and vaccinations to try to get on top of this.
“When we had an outbreak of the South African variant in south London last month we put in a huge amount, hundreds of thousands of tests in surge testing – people came forward in their droves across Southwark and Lambeth and Wandsworth, and we got that under control.”
Matt Hancock 'does not rule out' local lockdown in Bolton

 

Well its one way of controlling football hooligans innit ???

 

Agitators have nothing to do with Football, and testing nothing to do with resolution

 

Figures - today
Covid-19 in the UK: How many coronavirus cases are there in your area? - BBC News

 

The truth is that we have no idea. It entirely depends on how many journalists are scraping the barrel looking for a story to start more ridiculous panic.
The media started the frenzy that led to millions being spent on building the Nightingale hospitals, not one of which was necessary.
However, doctors are now using them as sterile virus free accommodation for patients recovering from major surgery. In that capacity they are performing a role that is long overdue.