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The COVID Diaries – 194 18th October

All the national polls show Joe Biden continuing to maintain a strong lead over Donald Trump in the US presidential election.

Many of the critical statewide polls in also show Biden in the lead, but some by tight margins

Predictions range from a Biden landslide through to Trump managing to sneak a narrow win through the electoral college. Early voting appears to be decisively in Biden’s favour.

But Democrats are concerned that something could still go wrong. No place for compacency. Is it too soon to hope that the Trump nightmare might be over?

The COVID Diaries – 193 17th October

Global coronavirus cases rose by more than 400,000 for the first time yesterday, a record one-day increase as much of Europe enacts new restrictions to curb the outbreak.

Europe, which successfully damped down the first surge of infections, has now emerged as the new coronavirus epicentre and is reporting on average 140,000 cases a day.

Of every 100 infections reported around the world, 34 were from European countries, according to a Reuters analysis. Major European countries – the United Kingdom, France, Russia, the Netherlands and Spain – accounted for about half of Europe’s new cases this week

The COVID Diaries – 192 16th October

Ratings obsessed Donald Trump is having to nurse his wounds after more people watched Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s town hall on Thursday night than watched the President’s, which took place at the same time. 

Following Trump’s refusal to debate with Biden after getting the coronavirus, Biden scheduled a town hall for that evening, Oct. 15, on ABC. Later, NBC News announced a town hall at the same time with Trump. 

Early data from ratings group Nielsen shows that Biden’s town hall, which aired on one network, captured about 13.9 million viewers. Meanwhile, Trump’s, which aired on three channels at once — NBC, CNBC and MSNBC  — achieved about 13.1 million.  

The COVID Diaries – 191 15th October

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham says he will not accept his city being used “as canaries in the coalmine for an experimental regional lockdown strategy”. He went on to claim that the government’s own medical advisers did not think the policy would work.

Boris Johnson’s approach to tackling the coronavirus has descended into chaos after mayors and MPs from the north-west of the country emphatically rejected being moved into the highest lockdown level and accused ministers of treating the region with contempt.

Talks designed to broker an agreement ended with bitter and angry exchanges, deepening a north-south rift that has left the government’s strategy of tiered restrictions in turmoil.

The COVID Diaries – 190 14th October

American voters are turning out in record numbers to take advantage of early voting in the 2020 presidential election.

A record 14 million have already voted in the general election and in key swing states such as Florida more than 2 million voters have already cast their ballots.

“The numbers are pretty staggering for us and the return rates and the polling look good,” Steve Schale, a Democratic strategist in Florida was quoted as saying. “But there’s just a lot we don’t know.”

In Georgia, residents waited for as long as eight hours to exercise their democratic right. Many took to social media to share their experiences with early voting, noting lines of voters spanning several city blocks or school parking lots.

The COVID Diaries – 189 13th October

The Independent has reported:

“Sir Keir Starmer has called for a three-week “circuit breaker” lockdown as the UK coronavirus death toll rose by 143, the highest daily rise since June.

“Meanwhile, local leaders in London believe tougher lockdown restrictions are “inevitable” as Covid-19 as infections rise across the city.

“While the capital is currently classed as “medium” risk under tier 1 – the lowest level of the government’s new three-tier local lockdown strategy – mayor Sadiq Khan has warned the city could be upgraded to “high” alert under tier 2 within days. “

The COVID Diaries – 188 12th October

A new three level rating was revealed by Boris Johnson today, splitting England into medium risk (tier 1), high risk (tier 2), and very high risk (tier 3) areas based on local authorities. More than 17 million people now face localised restrictions.

Only the Liverpool City area was designated as very high risk, which means that pubs will be forced to close and household mixing banned in almost all circumstances from Wednesday.

The COVID Diaries – 187 11th October

A new three-tier system for coronavirus restrictions is expected to be revealed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday.

The new system, which has provoked unprecedented anger from leaders and councils in the north of England, is expected to lead to millions being banned from mixing both indoors and outdoors. Thousands of pubs may also  be forced to close.

The COVID Diaries – 186 10th October

With no evidence that he is free from Covid-19 in the form of a proper test, Donald Trump is addressing a rally of around 2,000 fanatical supporters on the White House lawn.

The crowd are packed together with no social distancing and many not wearing face masks.

Is this natural seection at work?

The COVID Diaries – 185 9th October

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has warned that the city is heading for additional coronavirus restrictions, describing the capital as being at a “tipping point”.

Mr Khan said further restrictions across London are “inevitable” and that he expects an announcement of enhanced rules alongside the government’s unveiling of a new tiered system next week.