By definition, epidemiology is the study (scientific, systematic, and data-driven) of the distribution (frequency, pattern) and determinants (causes, risk factors) of health-related states and events (not just diseases) in specified populations (neighborhood, school, city, state, country, global).
WEATHER
Oh so warm – but temperatures will drop into the new year to the average for the time of year. Some possibility of frost in the last third of the month. A New Years wish is for better weather for our wildlife, especially butterflies and insects; and favourable winds for migrating birds like the swifts and swallows and martins which seem to need a bumper breeding season.
FOOTBALL -Predictions
Despite games in hand for Spurs and ManU the top 4 look to have it sewn up this season. manC look the strongest with Liverpool second and then Chelsea. Will Arsenal keep their top 4 position? At the bottom it looks grim for Norwich and Newcastle (although maybe a half billion might change things?). Burnley re gritty, Watford have moments of inspiration, Leeds seem dogged by bad luck and injuries. Everton and Southampton are probably the fatal’ too good to go down’ whilst I suspect Brentford will take the plunge at the end of the season.
COVID STATS – 7 DAY TOTALS 5 DAYS LATE
SCHOOLS
So the great leader has decreed that schools will open as normal in January. In October 2020 the German government spent £452 million improving ventilation systems in schools. The cost to the UK government would be £140 million plus add on costs for mates. New York City has provided 100000 HEPA purifiers for classrooms. UK govt has provided CO2 monitors and told teachers to open windows!
PLASTIC
Can we make 2022 the year we finally reduce our use of plastic. I was a very grateful recipient of Fresh-Lock Lids which can replace cling-film and tin-foil. The packaging says they stretch to 3 times their original size which I have got no where near – but I will never buy cling-film again. I suspect these are still plastic but can be used thousands of times. Single use plastic needs to be phased out asap.
We have wheelie bins for waste – but why put everything in a black plastic bag first? Food waste also has to be put in bags first.
All my clothes are now bamboo. Toothbrushes wooden and bamboo. Razor bamboo – but with metal!!!
CLIMATE CHANGE – A PLEA
There are many scientists and others studying climate change. Can we have a monthly bulletin with statistics – I am not sure people understand them but they are influenced by them. Sea level rise, global temperatures, renewable energy generation, electric car sales, butterfly counts, etc. just keep the topic at the forefront of peoples minds.
TAKING STOCK
When they say they are taking stock of the situation before introducing new measures what they really mean is they are testing public opinion. An overwhelmed NHS would be bad politically, but the anti-restriction brigade is swelling with support from the trash press. The ‘we have to live with it’ opinion is growing.
NEW YEARS HONOURS
COVID
OFNS estimated 1 in 35 with covid 7 days ago i.e. before the surge in cases. Governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have introduced further measures, Johnson has not. I do understand the need to try and keep all businesses going, but Public Health is vital too. NHS staff absences due to sickness were 40% up on the week. In some ways Xmas is beneficial in that many people are off work anyway. Unfortunately the hospitality industry has been hammered again.