What the papers said in the week ending 7 November 2020
This is the week when the people of the USA have voted in favour of a Democrat, Joe Biden, to become President in succession to Republican Donald Trump. An uncomfortably close call and President Trump is not accepting the outcome.
It is also the week that England returned to a national lockdown in the belief that this will reduce the number of people being affected by Covid 19
- The rules to be applied are essentially unchanged from the first lockdown and pay scant regard for what has been learned about the damage to personal and family life, mental health and well-being, which has arisen from restrictions.
- Amongst the activities to be forbidden is communal worship. Thankfully the logic of this is being challenged by leaders of the Roman Catholic Church, Church of England and some other Christian denominations, and by leaders of other faiths. Return to limited worship has been welcomed by many, conducted with dignity and discipline and without evidence of infection surges. Surely such learning should be acknowledged by ‘the science’. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/03/faith-leaders-challenge-england-lockdown-ban-on-communal-worship-coronavirus
- https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/news/archbishops-join-interfaith-call-pm-allow-public-worship
- Some of the science behind the perceived need for lockdown relates to the prospect of our health and social care services being overwhelmed. It seems we have not invested to provide services which might resist such challenges: For instance England has 2.95 doctors per 1,000 of the population. Germany has 4.31. England’s hospital beds are 2.46 per 1000 – Germany 8/1000, France 6/1000, Japan 13/1000 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/02/what-is-the-science-behind-englands-second-national-lockdown
The effectiveness of simple disciplines of distancing and use of competent masks in closed spaces, is confirmed https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/02/ventilation-and-masks-are-key-to-curbing-covid
The consequences of the pandemic are evident in many aspects of life, exposing the frailty of this country’s infrastructure to protect the vulnerable:
- Hunger is large on the agenda – families which previously felt safe and secure have found their outgoings continue and their income reduced – some have begun to turn to food banks https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/nov/01/growing-numbers-newly-hungry-forced-use-uk-food-banks-covid
- Flawed nutritional strategy for the community as a whole over the last 30 years has meant England’s ranking in the measure of average height amongst 19 year olds has fallen from 28th to 39th (male) and 42nd to 49th (female) https://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/national-news/18851697.poor-childhood-nutrition-may-created-20cm-height-gap-across-nations/
- https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31859-6/fulltext
Life in care homes continues to receive entirely appropriate attention, as never before:
- The consequences of brutal separation of families by rules applied without sensitivity is exposed and beginning to yield changes: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/nov/05/family-plead-for-change-to-care-home-rules-after-daughters-arrest
- https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/nov/03/judge-says-care-home-residents-in-england-are-legally-allowed-visitors
- Scotland’s government guidance is preferred to England’s https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/nov/06/follow-scotlands-lead-on-covid-secure-care-home-visits
This is a very important issue and we look for action being informed by sensitivity and compassion
Moves to improve life for people in care homes are being thought up with many innovative local schemes. The Old Vic is streaming ‘A Christmas Carol’ to care homes free of charge. https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2020/nov/02/old-vic-livestream-full-production-a-christmas-carol
Other matters
More people are reading and there are developments in the world of books old and new: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/nov/02/this-is-revolutionary-new-online-bookshop-unites-indies-to-rival-amazon
The Ramblers’ Association is busily ensuring that when we are free to walk, there will be paths for us to wander https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/nov/02/more-than-49000-miles-paths-lost-maps-england-wales
All sorts of people offer suggestions of how to stay sane in a restricted life: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/nov/07/i-know-how-ill-get-through-this-winter-oversized-jumpers-and-triple-jacket-potatoes
A study of van Gogh traces the development of his bipolar disorder and its interaction with his use of alcohol and other substances. It raises the suggestion that some of his most florid symptoms were the result of delirium tremens when well-meant hospitalisation imposed a regime of no alcohol upon him. Much of his most powerful and memorable work was created in his last years when most fiercely afflicted by his illnesses Study links Van Gogh’s delirium to alcohol withdrawal
https://journalbipolardisorders.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40345-020-00196-z
David Jolley
