ITALY – DEMOGRAPHCS

Along with many other developed countries the birth rate is falling. Italy’s population is at its lowest for 90 years. Villages are becoming deserted, especially those in hill top positions in remote parts of southern Italy. Test areas are already the poorest in Italy with few job prospects. They are also extremely vulnerable to Covid with many hospitals having been closed.

There are. some parallels with Cornwall where the number of intensive care beds very low. Cornwall is one of the poorest regions in pre-Brexit EU.

BELARUS

We should avoid becoming to insular. Russian influences will pervade here, but Lukashenko’s time might be limited. Belarus may not have the right wing element that exists in other Eastern European countries. Although I doubt that Russia will allow any liberal government.

COVID STATS

First day of lockdown. The statistics table is on next page. After 2 weeks we should see a reduction in cases if the lockdown is working. Now would be the time to bring students home from university. Negligently he missed the opportunity to extend half term and shut schools (which may still be a major factor).

I will add a couple of places to stats from Wales, Scotland and N.I.

AMERICAN ELECTION

A couple of days to go. And most votes have already been cast – is this something we will see in this country in future? I mean to be honest, why not just have postal voting? Electronic makes more sense but, I am not sure what the but is!

NOT WORKING

It seems so obvious. With the R number being above 1 or even 2 and the number of cases rising just about everywhere something is not working! Are masks and social distancing not enough, or are people not observing the basic rules? What research is being done into how the virus is spreading so fast at the moment?