What the papers said in the week ending May 23rd 2020
Religion
Churches and other faiths are receiving comment in the media, perhaps more frequently than in normal times: The covid-19 death of 88 year old Bishop Vincent Malone of Liverpool was given prominence along with the deaths of people, some of whom are well known, others previously only know to friends and family. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-52709987
British Muslims prepared to celebrate Eid on line: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/23/eid-celebrations-go-virtual-uk-muslims-urged-stay-home
Canon Rosie Harper protested at the way that the Churches had acquiesced to government requirements and closed all church buildings. Most will feel that the Churches’ action was the only responsible way forwards, but as we see relaxation of constraints in other settings, it is to be hoped that thought is being given to steps which will allow churches to become again places for communal prayer and worship. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/21/synod-member-attacks-church-of-englands-self-obsession-in-pandemic
Reasons
Understanding of how and why the UK, particularly England, has suffered such high rates of infection and death, is growing. With the understanding there comes regret and very hard learning:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/19/uk-government-pandemic
It is little comfort to know that our experts have required the nation to follow a pattern of measures which might have been effective in a flu epidemic, but coronaviruses behave differently. Perhaps matters would have been different if Public Health expertise had been given greater weight.
The number of excess deaths is now over 55,000 but there is encouragement that current measures and time will see a return to normal rates of death per week by July https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/19/almost-55000-excess-uk-deaths-during-covid-19-outbreak-says-ons
Deaths in care homes have been so very many – and source of much heartache, exacerbated by rules which have limited family contact during their terminal days. Better focussed control on other counties has minimised deaths in their care homes https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/19/mps-hear-why-hong-kong-had-no-covid-19-care-home-deaths
It is becoming clear that spread of the virus between care homes has been transmitted by staff, often agency workers, moving from home to home to fill vacancies. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/18/agency-staff-were-spreading-covid-19-between-care-homes-phe-found-in-april
New outbreaks are feared https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/18/london-care-homes-report-possible-fresh-covid-19-outbreaks
A pioneering initiative led by a retired GP in Sheffield traced many cases and contacts to care workers, but found that many of them were not prepared to cooperate with tracing, and had worked despite knowing they had symptoms. This is the reality of life when people need to work to pay their bills. Somehow this phenomenon must be overcome. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/21/uk-first-coronavirus-contact-tracing-group-warns-of-difficulties
The value and standing of people providing social care is being realised. It must be that this receives appropriate long-term reward https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/19/the-guardian-view-on-care-work-a-vocation-that-has-been-betrayed
Consequences
Old people complain of loneliness despite the efforts being made to combat this. Some fear they are losing their retirement years https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/17/i-miss-people-terribly-the-growing-pain-of-older-peoples-isolation-lockdown
Other illnesses continue and deaths from them have risen: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/may/20/thousands-of-cancer-patients-could-die-early-due-to-coronavirus-delays-study-finds
Dental services remain vestigial, despite claims from ministers during the week that all is well. Arguments are being made within the profession for a disciplined return to practice as normal https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/may/17/allow-dentists-to-go-back-to-work-now
New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton has set up a factory in its library to produce protective equipment. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/17/uk-hospital-tackles-ppe-shortage-by-making-5000-visors-a-day
More people are discovering the joys and rewards of gardening and growing their own: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/17/how-lockdown-has-created-veg-growing-revolution-uk-coronavirus
Natural life – the animals and birds of the countryside – are expending their territory in parks: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/22/animals-cities-coronavirus-lockdowns-deer-raccoons
Indeed the human animals are also using parks more – mostly within guidance – taking advantage of the good weather and time without school or workplace. Our movements are tracked by Google via our mobile phones, Eerie but true https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/21/data-public-uk-relaxed-attitude-lockdown-restrictions
Sales of bicycles have risen. The pleasure and safety of cycling during these days of reduced traffic will not be so pleasurable of safe when more vehicles return to the roads https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/may/23/two-wheels-good-bike-sales-soar-as-uk-takes-to-cycling
But the benefits of DIY should be enduring: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2020/may/23/paint-diy-and-save-cash-lockdown
The end?
The weekly celebration of those providing services in these difficult and dangerous times – clapping on Thursdays at 8pm – has added to local feelings of solidarity – even bringing neighbours to know each other for the first time. Its focus on particular groups, terminology couched in war phrases and the like, have led to some unease and it may cease after the next clap https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/22/lets-stop-clapping-for-the-nhs-says-woman-who-started-the-ritual
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/may/21/nhs-doctor-enough-people-clapping
I hope the Sunday candle at 7pm might continue its quiet acknowledgement of this special time
Captain Tom is to be knighted https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/19/beacon-of-light-capt-tom-moore-to-be-knighted
Other news
The law now expects body parts to be harvestable when we die unless we or our family opt out https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/organ-donor-law-england-opt-out-register-children-max-keira-a9524216.html
Trivia: more letters about the use of old tights, people hearing cuckoos for the first time in years
David Jolley
