What the papers have said in the week ending August 8th
Covid 19 continues to dominate world and UK thinking. Its impact on the lives of older people is immense – for we are at the greatest risk of infection and death.
- The over 50s have not been amused by reports that a government think tank has mused on the idea of lockdown for everyone over 50: Naturally it was only a rumour
- https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/aug/03/isolating-over-50s-idea-covid-19
- https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/millions-more-could-be-told-to-stay-at-home-and-shield-5w76wxlhs
The quality of government thinking and decision making has been called into question on many fronts:
- Philip Barber, a Respiratory Physician in Manchester, calls it incoherent: he is bemused by a rule which allows him to go out for dinner (and receive a £10 voucher), but says he cannot visit his mother – and he and others have more to say https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/02/an-incoherent-approach-to-controlling-covid-19
- The question of contracts awarded to best friends, not well equipped to undertake the work of testing and tracing, exposed by Professor Pollock last week, is attacked by other specialists https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/03/uk-virologists-criticise-handling-coronavirus-testing-contracts
- There is grave concern that there will be more new cases – whether as a spike or wave, or just a continuation of where are now. Special concern is that other lives should not be sacrificed by diverting all resources to Covid-19 patients https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/06/nhs-shutdown-risks-thousands-of-deaths-in-covid-19-second-wave
In this context it is reassuring to learn that NHS England is to spend £160m on new and safer cancer treatments which will not reduce immunity as much as current mainline drugs do: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/aug/03/nhs-england-spends-160m-on-new-covid-friendly-cancer-drugs
Covid Consequences:
- Loss of visitors to the island of Lundy has taken away its revenue so that there are fears that the salvation of wildlife which followed a donation from Jack Hayward in 1969, will be crushed. Those hardy humans who have chosen to live on the island may be hard pushed to survive https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/aug/04/lockdown-puts-wildlife-conservation-on-devon-lundy-island-at-risk-coronavirus
- Offices have remained empty. Many people and companies have found that working at home is acceptable and more productive, though the loss of the advantages from cross-pollination of ideas by random corridor and canteen meetings might mute creativity. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/aug/04/covid-reimagine-office-workplace-cubicles-hotdesking
- Altered arrangements have stimulated more creativity in some quarters – women are showing the way https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/aug/02/the-guardian-view-on-lockdown-creativity-a-freedom-for-female-musicians
- Recognition of the value of green spaces is releasing some money to fund three new parks in northern cities – though millions of pounds revenue have been lost from the maintenance budgets of existing parks through austerity deprivation of councils https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/aug/04/manchester-to-build-first-city-centre-park-in-100-years
Other matters:
- The Pope has appointed six women to look after the finances of the Vatican https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/06/pope-appoints-six-women-to-top-roles-on-vatican-council-in-progressive-step
- The life of John Hume, politician and Nobel Peace Prize winner is celebrated: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/aug/03/john-hume-obituary
- Researchers from The University of Highlands and Islands have discovered a lost Viking canal system on Orkney – alerted by Old Norse place names relating to the sea and boats https://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/national-news/18627947.ancient-viking-waterway-discovered-orkney/
- Punch and Judy shows are returning to promenades: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/aug/07/telly-just-isnt-the-same-glorious-return-of-english-seaside-entertainment-devon
A letter from Dr Anne Summers has clarified the origins of the phrase ‘Bob’s your uncle’, reflecting that cronyism is not a new invention of Boris Johnson’s government: Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, Prime Minister 1900, gathered a cabinet which included six members of his own family. Gascoyne-Cecil retired 1902 – giving way to his nephew Arthur Balfour. ‘Bob’s your uncle!’ https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/aug/04/want-a-peerage-bobs-your-uncle
John Clark, in a letter August 5th, picked up on the phrase ’in the velveteen breeches’ from a cricket report two days earlier. Where does this come from and what does it mean? A short but futile correspondence has followed. Google is no help
A further note continues recognition and thanks for the life of Tom Arie: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/aug/05/letter-tom-arie-obituary
Last word: Spitting Image is coming back – to set things right Johnson, Cummings and Prince Andrew among new Spitting Image puppets
David Jolley
