With a further 6 deaths and 179 new cases since yesterday, there are now 47 deaths and 1 563 cases in total. The mortality rate stays fairly low and stable at 3% up from 2.9% yesterday but still below the 3.2% rate on the day before that. The UK rate remains at 6.3%. Italy is at 11%, Spain is at nearly 9% but Germany remains below 1%. Continue reading Scottish mortality rate for coronavirus holds at half of UK average

So, in Scotland with the lowest mortality rate, half that of the UK average, look at that headline. Similarly, the people of Wales and Northern Ireland can see quickly how bad things are. But in the UK: Praise the Lord! The Chosen One is alive and well! And in England: One plucky old woman succumbs but the live updates offer morale boosters and keep the soaring numbers from you. This is the third day in a row with the same pattern. Continue reading Third day running and it’s DEATH for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland but only tales of resilience for England and the UK

https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/blog-feed/ Continue reading New Front-end!

Alerted to this by Contrary after seeing a tweet about it, I’m shocked that this could even be possible, and not just at this time. In February 2008 (!) the Daily Mail wrote: ‘Nurses could be banned from wearing their uniforms off hospital premises – because the public are afraid they could spread superbugs. At the moment, nurses are allowed to wear their uniforms while travelling to and from work, as long as it is covered by an outer garment. … “If they then have to allow extra time for getting changed into their uniform, it will lead to an even extended working day.’ Readers may remember the Norovirus outbreaks last winter … Continue reading Are Scotland’s lower coronavirus deaths partly due to uniforms only being worn in the hospital?

https://newlearningonline.com/new-learning/chapter-4/margaret-thatcher-theres-no-such-thing-as-society Continue reading The Tories: These are our values. If you don’t like them we have other ones

Only 50%! In the Scotsman last night the above headline and this opening statement by ‘Scotsman Reporter’: ‘The mortality rate of patients admitted to intensive care with a confirmed case of coronavirus is close to 50%, according to an early study of critical care outcomes. The report, by the Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre (ICNARC) shows that out of 165 admissions to critical care units, 79 patients have died and 86 were discharged. A further 609 patients were last reported as still being in intensive care.’ Disturbing, but then we read, if we’ve stayed with the story: ‘The … Continue reading ‘Scotsman Reporter’ unable to report on Scotland presents UK data instead to give you a wee chill

No NHS England figures, 1 228 deaths and 19 522 cases across the UK not mentioned but, as yesterday, in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland the death toll is headlined, repeated and warnings of under-reporting are given: On TV broadcasts, the UK figures are given, but no figures for NHS England. Continue reading For second day BBC hiding true scale of coronavirus in England and across UK

As of yesterday, there was one further death taking the total up to 41 and there were 139 new cases taking the total up to 1 384, in Scotland. The mortality rate is down again to 2.96% from 3.2% on the previous day. In Wales, there were 10 more deaths from 1 241 cases, taking the total there up to 48. Wales has around half the population of Scotland but suffers from proximity to London. The UK average rate has grown to 6.3% though that will be swollen by the emerging crisis in London. https://www.travellingtabby.com/scotland-coronavirus-tracker/ Continue reading Scotland’s coronavirus mortality rate falls again

The above was announced yesterday afternoon https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-scotland-52009857 Can we expect this to get the kind of BBC attention paid to single Facebook activists for GP conditions, one Glasgow anaesthetist or the doctors trade union, the BMA? Sadly no. Continue reading Media reports of Personal Protective Equipment shortages are baseless

The latest Panelbase poll of Holyrood voting intentions, puts the SNP at 51%, Cons at 26%, and Labour at 14%. This would give the SNP a clear majority, with 70 MSPs, and a mandate for Indyref2. The Herald’s Tom Gordonstoun is gobsmacked again (stop it!) and fails to see that voters are not supporting the SNP despite or because of any insular journalistic theory about personalities. They’re voting for the party and its manifesto. They’re grown-ups. What else would they do? Continue reading New poll puts SNP on course for record Holyrood win BECAUSE voters are not interested in Herald theories about personality clashes