What the papers said in the week ending 10 October 2020
We have leadership and a well-grounded, compassionate message from Pope Francis. A blessed assurance rising above the frantic sound-bites and one-liners which add up to nothing
Newspapers have complemented this by extolling the virtues and therapy of plant life – small and great in our local environment:
- House plants: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/oct/04/the-guardian-view-on-houseplants-balm-for-troubled-times
- Trees: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/06/uk-set-for-burst-of-vivid-autumn-colours-after-sunny-september ; https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/09/autumn-colour-brings-joy-to-uks-growing-band-of-leaf-peepers; https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/oct/10/into-the-woods-in-search-of-britains-ancient-oak-trees-wiltshire
- And everything you can see on a good walk: https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/oct/11/four-historic-walks-hikes-in-englands-woodlands
- The ancient built environment is not forgotten: https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2020/oct/09/hundreds-of-historic-english-sites-to-share-103m-in-covid-rescue-funds
It is good to find space devoted to these phenomena which strengthen our vitality and resilience. But this is still the year of Covid 19 and we best check on that part of the story:
Covid news
There is no doubt that the number of people being infected with Covid-19 is rising again: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/08/germany-fears-spiralling-covid-spread-as-cases-rise-suddenly
- The question is how this can best be coped with. In the UK we face a return to more restrictions of movement and social contacts but there varying views, even amongst experts about the details of what to do. There is real concern that the medicine is causing harm
- But the longer term damage to survivors still needs to be monitored https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/09/brain-fog-the-people-struggling-to-think-clearly-months-after-covid
- There have been fewer cases of common cold or flu recorded – maybe no-one is going to the doctor, or maybe the restrictions to reduce spread of Covid 19 are working well for these other conditionshttps://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/oct/09/non-covid-infectious-disease-cases-down-in-england-data-suggests
We see life continues, despite all the drawbacks in care homes https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/06/life-under-covid-in-scottish-care-homes-a-photo-essay
The frantic search for doing right but ending by doing wrong is highlighted for a Scottish MP who felt unwell, took a test, hoped she would be OK – went to church, travelled, found she had tested positive, came home and is now excluded and ostracised by her political party https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/oct/06/mp-margaret-ferrier-attended-church-the-day-after-covid-test
Empirical research into what actually happens in an operating theatre has found that intubation spreads hardly any extra micro-droplets, so that advice which has slowed operations throughout the NHS, based on a theoretical model of what could happen, was wrong.
- This should lead to a return to normal practice and reduction of waiting lists: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/oct/06/covid-unnecessary-precautions-causing-nhs-surgery-backlog
- Never-the-less, the restrictions have meant that NHS ‘cold’ surgery has been severely rationed, leading more people to find the money from their reserves to be sure that can get treatment. It is not cheap £14,000 for a new hip, £13,000 for a knee. Healthcare rationed to those who can afford it. None for those who cannot – This is not what the National Health Service set out to do. https://www.theguardian.com/money/2020/oct/10/covid-uk-fund-own-operations-private-for-knee-hip-cataract-operations-pay
- There are fears that hospitals will be unable to do more than cope with Covid cases https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/08/hospitals-in-north-of-england-to-run-out-of-covid-beds-within-a-week
The Health Visiting service, long undervalued and underfunded, always focused on child and mother health – denying its potential to improve services for older people – has already been decimated with staff re-allocated to other ‘frontline’ activities. Fear destroying a sound structure of preventative care.
- https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/oct/04/fears-for-mothers-and-babies-covid-19-health-visitor-crisis-mental-health-breastfeeding-england
- https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/oct/07/health-visitors-are-crucial-for-families
Covid 19 is an elusive Will-O’-the-wisp: four out of five people known to have the condition, had no symptoms. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/08/more-than-80-positive-cases-in-covid-study-had-no-core-symptoms
Despite the difficulties people are finding their way to demonstrate mettle
Captain (Major) Tom has an idea to reduce loneliness and bring older people into action: https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-britain-veteran/feeling-lonely-captain-tom-launches-podcast-to-tackle-isolation-idUKKBN26Q1GW
Although the London Marathon could not happen as it usually does, virtual mini-marathons were organised all around the country. We had one based on our park. Did you? https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2020/sep/28/londons-virtual-long-distance-runners-will-never-be-lonely-in-spirit
The Honours System has recognised good works:
- https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/oct/04/mary-berry-in-line-damehood-queen-birthday-honours-list#:~:text=The%20former%20Great%20British%20Bake,honours%20list%2C%20according%20to%20reports.&text=Most%20recently%2C%20she%20has%20been,Comforts%20and%20Classic%20Mary%20Berry.
- https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/oct/09/marcus-rashford-given-mbe-in-birthday-honours-for-school-meals-campaign
The Nobel Peace prize has been awarded to food campaigners:
Wit is not lost in old age: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/oct/04/alexa-can-i-keep-on-learning-in-my-70s
Faulty old books are of special value: https://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/national-news/18781182.rare-harry-potter-first-edition-fetch-50-000-auction-says-expert/
We have lost:
Frank Windsor who was ‘good-cop’ through successive TV series https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/oct/02/frank-windsor-obituary
And Dr Mary Baines who took palliative care from hospices to the community: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/sep/29/mary-baines-obituary
Most promising breakthrough of this week is the research undertaken in Mexico City which has demonstrated dust particles in the brain stem of people living in the most polluted areas – almost certainly acting as foci for the development of Alzheimer’s disease. This is something where action can be taken internationally for the common good. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/06/air-pollution-particles-in-young-brains-linked-to-alzheimers-damage
David Jolley
