thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-13--Simon Cowell Seen For First Time Since Breaking His Back, As Amanda Holden Shares Health Update

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Simon Cowell has been seen for the first time since breaking his back earlier this year.
The TV mogul underwent surgery after falling from an electric bike he was riding at his home in California in August.
However, Simon was seen looking in high spirits on pal and ex-girlfriend Terri Seymour’s Instagram Story as he celebrated his 61st birthday.
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In the video, he could be seen sat at the table being presented with a cake as his son with partner Lauren Silverman, Eric, sang Happy Birthday.
Simon Cowell celebrated his 61st birthday with a cake Instagram
Simon, who actually turned 61 last week, is currently recuperating in the US and was forced to miss the semi finals and final of Britain’s Got Talent, with Diversity’s Ashley Banjo stepping in to replace him.
His co-judge Amanda Holden appeared on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday morning, where she discussed Simon’s recovery, praising him for being a “fighter”.
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Simon and Amanda Holden with the rest of the BGT crew at auditions earlier this year Shirlaine Forrest via Getty Images
She told hosts Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid: “Lauren is always saying to me that, ‘His will to get better is extraordinary.’
“He’s very determined. He’s a fighter… There’s no way he will want to be seen to be failing or to not be getting better as quickly as he possibly can.
“So, I know that we will see him next year.”
Amanda, who was promoted to head judge on BGT in Simon’s absence, quipped of filling in: “I’m going to ask for parity of pay. I think that’s only fair.
“As a female and as the head, I should be at least on the same wage as him. And then I could donate it and save some theatres.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-13--Racial And Religious Hate Crimes Jumped By One Third During Black Lives Matter Protests

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Racial and religious hate crimes increased by 34% during the period of the Black Lives Matter protests this summer, provisional figures from the Home Office reveal.
In June, the number of racially or religiously aggravated offences recorded by police across England and Wales was a third higher than in June 2019.
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Increases were seen across most forces, with 27 forces seeing an increase of one quarter or more. The level of these offences remained high in July.
The surges across June and July 2020 appeared in a separate Home Office report into trends during the coronavirus pandemic – and are likely to be directly related to the Black Lives Matters protests and far-right groups counter-protests across the country following the death of George Floyd at the hands of US police, the government said.
There were increases in both racially or religiously aggravated and non-aggravated public fear, alarm or distress offences in May, June and July 2020.
Overall there were 105,090 hate crimes recorded compared with 97,446 the year before.
The majority of hate crimes were race-related and this accounting for around three-quarters of offences. These increased by 6% 2018/19 and 2019/20.
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Sexual orientation hate crimes recorded by the police in England and Wales also increased by 19% in the last year.
While increases in hate crime over the last five years have been mainly driven by improvements in crime recording by the police, there has been spikes in hate crime following certain events such as the EU Referendum and the terrorist attacks in 2017.
This comes as charity Victim Support said it received 5,657 referrals between July 5 and August 22 from the police and other agencies, with the majority involving sexual orientation or race and nationality.
This is a 62% rise from the 3,489 referrals during the same period in 2019, with sexual orientation-related referrals more than doubling and race and nationality-related referrals increasing by 64%.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-13--Pubs Can Stay Open If They Serve Cornish Pasty With Chips, Says Cabinet Minister

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A Cornish pasty counts as a “substantial meal” which if served would allow a pub to remain open under the toughest local lockdowns in England – as long as it comes with chips or a salad.
Boris Johnson yesterday unveiled a new three-tier system that will see different areas of the country placed under varying levels of restrictions in an attempt to control coronavirus.
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Pubs across Merseyside are set to close from Wednesday as the Liverpool City Region becomes the first area to move into the “very high” alert level.
But they will be allowed to stay open and serve alcohol as long as drinks are bought with food.
Under the rules the food has to be a “substantial meal”, not just a packet of crisps.
Speaking to LBC on Tuesday morning, communities secretary Robert Jenrick was pressed to clarify what was allowed and what was not.
“Does a Cornish pasty count as a substantial meal?” he was asked.
“I think it could do, yeah. I mean, you can go to a restaurant and have a Cornish pasty, can’t you, for lunch,” Jenrick said.
“If you would expect to go into that restaurant normally, or pub, and order a plated meal at the table of a Cornish pasty with chips or side salad or whatever it comes with, then that’s a normal meal,” he said.
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“This isn’t actually as unusual a concept as you might feel. We’ve had this in law for licence holders for a long time because it’s the same rule that has applied if you take a minor into a pub.
“You can’t do so unless they have a substantial meal alongside the alcoholic drinks, so people who actually run pubs and bars will be familiar with this and know how to operate it.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-13--The Haunting Of Bly Manor Fans Stunned As They Realise Netflix Show's Connection To Peppa Pig

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Netflix’s new horror series The Haunting of Bly Manor is full of twists and turns, but one real-life revelation has shocked fans more than anything in the show.
Many have worked out why the series’ young character Flora seems so familiar – she’s actually the voice of Peppa Pig.
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Nine-year-old star Amelie Bea Smith plays Flora Wingrave in Bly Manor, who just so happens to bring everyone’s favourite animated pig to life.
Amelie Bea Smith as Flora in The Haunting Of Bly Manor and Peppa Pig Netflix/BBC
The familiarity of Amelie’s voice had many viewers struggling to place where they recognised it from, but when they came to the realisation their minds were blown...
Me: Why does Flora's voice in Bly Manor seem so eerily familiar?
Me: OH MY GOD SHE'S PEPPA PIG — Andy @ 🏡😔 (@andythelemon_) October 11, 2020
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APPARENTLY FLORA FROM THE HAUNTING OF BLY MANOR IS THE VOICE ACTRESS FOR PEPPA PIG??? I CAN’T UNHEAR THIS ANYMORE pic.twitter.com/sitHb4Cw45 — stalli c (@chescagonz) October 11, 2020
The perfectly splendid feeling when you find out Flora from Haunting of Bly Manor also does the voice of Peppa Pig: pic.twitter.com/gFNzanOh8U — Alex Zalben (@azalben) October 12, 2020
oh my god the little girl in Haunting of Bly Manor is PEPPA PIG i can’t process this information pic.twitter.com/dcVEijgKPl — cole (@coleeneal) October 10, 2020
YOURE TELLING ME PEPPA PIG WAS IN BLY MANOR THIS WHOLE TIME??? — hannah | bly manor spoilers (@foIklorealbum) October 11, 2020
I don’t think any of us are talking enough about the fact that the creepy girl in Bly Manor also plays Peppa Pig pic.twitter.com/ENQM62PJ04 — Mrs Phil Perry (@MrsPhilPerry) October 12, 2020
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Me trying to watch Bly Manor w/o thinking about how that little girl is the voice of Peppa Pig pic.twitter.com/AUvwfWTM3u — kowalski 🤘 (@gayvillanelles) October 10, 2020
i can't stop laughing at the fact the little girl who plays flora in bly manor voices peppa pig... imagine peppa pig just like "perfectly splendid" — amy (@yikesitsamy) October 11, 2020
flora from haunting of bly manor voicing peppa pig makes too much sense — living dead vee (@yourwetdress) October 12, 2020
Netflix even tweeted about it too...
Amelie Bea Smith from The Haunting of Bly Manor is also the voice of Peppa Pig!
Pass it on. pic.twitter.com/6nOZksBNKV — Netflix (@netflix) October 12, 2020
Amelie took over the role of Peppa Pig from previous actor Harley Bird in January.
She is the fourth actor to lend her voice to the famous pig since the beloved kids cartoon launched in 2004.
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The Haunting of Bly Manor debuted on Netflix last week and quickly became one of the streaming service’s most popular shows over the weekend.
The horror drama is loosely based on Henry James’ 1898 novella The Turn Of The Screw, which tells the story of a governess who, caring for two children at a remote estate, becomes convinced that the grounds are haunted.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-13--Woman Goes Into Labour While Taking Law Exam, Gives Birth And Finishes Test

An Illinois woman spent months labouring in preparation for her upcoming bar exam ― only to go into labour during the test.
Loyola University Chicago law school graduate Brianna Hill originally planned on taking the bar in July, but amid Covid-19 concerns, the exam was delayed to October.
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Hill knew that meant she’d be very pregnant while taking the final test toward becoming a lawyer, and she was OK with that. “I was ready to go ― confident,” she told NBC Chicago.
She started her exam on October 5 at home (technological measures were taken to keep her and all the other remote test takers from cheating).
But within minutes, Hill went into labour.
“I didn’t think about it because I was in the test,” she said.
“I started taking the [Multistate Performance Test], but since we were remote I couldn’t leave view of the camera. As soon as I stood up when I finished, I knew my water had broken,” Hill told Above the Law. “So I took my break, got myself cleaned up, called my husband, midwife, and mom, cried because I was a little panicked, then sat down to take the [Multistate Essay Examination].”
Surprisingly, Hill said going into labour helped her with the test.
“Going into labour really put the bar exam into perspective and made my nerves go away really quickly,” she said.
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Despite the impending birth, Hill managed to finish all of her essays before heading to the hospital around 5.30 p.m.
A little less than five hours later, at 10.10pm, Hill gave birth to Cassius Phillip Andrew.
But there was still the second day of bar exams for Hill to complete. Luckily, hospital staff let her take them in an empty room with a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door.
During breaks, she nursed her newborn.
“I’m so thankful for the support system I had around me. The midwives and nurses were so invested in helping me not only become a mom but also a lawyer,” Hill told CNN.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-13--Families 'Too Scared To Sit In Their Gardens' Amid Spike In Hate Crimes

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Intimidating behaviour from neighbours fuelled an “extremely concerning” rise in the number of hate crime victims needing support over the summer, a charity has said.
Some families are too scared to sit in their gardens, Victim Support said, after a spike in requests for support from victims of racial and homophobic hate crimes in England and Wales.
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The charity received 5,657 referrals between July 5 and August 22 from the police and other agencies, with the majority involving sexual orientation or race and nationality.
This is a 62% rise from the 3,489 referrals during the same period in 2019, with sexual orientation-related referrals more than doubling and race and nationality-related referrals increasing by 64%.
Victim Support said the rise was “extremely concerning”, but it could be a sign that people have more confidence to seek help and report offences.
The charity identified intimidation from neighbours as a recurring theme, with people receiving verbal slurs, being coughed at and banging on walls or windows.
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This has left some people scared to play with their children in their garden or put the bins out, the charity said.
Not being able to escape abuse around the home in areas subject to local lockdowns is making the impact of hate crime more acute, it added.
Kirsty O'Connor - PA Images via Getty Images
Hate crime manager Jessica Rees said those targeted feel they have no escape, and are anxious about what may happen over the coming months.
She told the PA news agency: “People we were speaking to had their curtains closed, their blinds closed, they were stuck indoors and they felt too scared to even go outside.”
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One person said their neighbour had spat on their shared porch and shouted racial abuse, while the neighbour of a key worker from a Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) background blamed them for spreading coronavirus.
Victim Support said this “added another layer of stress/anxiety, as they felt vulnerable being exposed to the virus due to work, but at the same time not feeling like the home is a safe haven due to the abuse from the neighbour”.
A woman with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) told the charity her neighbours were banging on the ceiling every time she coughed.
Another victim said issues with their neighbours had deteriorated since the Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests sparked by the death of George Floyd in the US, with neighbours saying “George George George” in between coughs.
Rees continued: “We saw that (the BLM movement) encouraged lots of people to come forward and feel empowered to report it, but we also did see a lot more – especially online – racial hate and a backlash with ‘All Lives Matter’ as well. So I think it was a mix of both – an increase in reporting but also an increase in incidents too.
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“We also saw that rise in homophobic-related hate and people accessing support for that specifically.
“We know some victims have told us they have returned from universities so they don’t have to self-isolate alone, but this may have increased homophobia and transphobia from being back in their local communities, especially if they’ve come from cities to more rural places – that has contributed as well.”
sestovic via Getty Images
Diana Fawcett, Victim Support chief executive, said: “These figures may show genuine rises in hate crime, with significant spikes seen in June and early July when events like the Black Lives Matter protests were taking place.
“Our caseworkers also report that the lockdown has been used in some instances to intimidate BAME communities with false accusations of flouting rules.”
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Victim Support provides help and emotional support to victims of all crimes, including hate crime, whether or not the incident has been reported to police.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “All forms of hate crime are completely unacceptable and the UK has a robust legislative framework to respond to it.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-13--EastEnders Confirms Childhood Sexual Abuse Storyline For Mick Carter

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EastEnders will explore Mick Carter’s sexual abuse as a child in a new storyline.
Upcoming scenes on the BBC soap will will see Danny Dyer’s character coming to terms with the abuse he suffered when he was in the care system.
Bosses worked closely with both NSPCC and SurvivorsUK on the plotline, which has been introduced following the arrival of Frankie Lewis (Rose Ayling-Ellis) in Albert Square.
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Danny Dyer as Mick Carter in EastEnders BBC / Kieron McCarron
Mick was left shocked when she told him that he is her father and was adamant she had got the wrong person, until Frankie mentioned her mother’s name, Katy Lewis, taking him back to his childhood.
On Monday night’s episode, viewers saw Tina Carter (Luisa Bradshaw-White) telling Frankie that Katy was their beloved care worker when she and Mick were in care.
However, Frankie realised that Mick was 12 years old at the time, and her mother was older.
The next part of the story will explore the impact the revelation has on Mick and his ongoing struggle with abandonment and understanding that what he experienced was abuse.
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The character will be seen suffering with some of the long-term effects of abuse with his emotional difficulties, panic attacks and mental health problems worsening as a result.
Both the children’s charity the NSPCC and SurvivorsUK, a specialist service for male and non-binary sexual violence survivors, consulted on scripts and story elements, and helped facilitate conversations with real survivors of child sexual abuse.
Jon Sen, executive producer of EastEnders said: “Viewers have always been aware that Mick spent many years in care, which has been the cause of his fractured relationship with Shirley but now the audience will discover just why Mick’s childhood has been so traumatic.
“This storyline will see Mick having to confront the demons of his past, something he has desperately tried to avoid for many years and face up to the realisation that he experienced abuse whilst he was in care.
“Our work with SurvivorsUK and NSPCC has been vital in informing and grounding Mick’s story very much in reality. We hope this storyline will help to challenge the perceptions, the stigma and the shame – particularly experienced by male survivors.”
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Mick recently discovered that Frankie was his daughter BBC / Kieron McCarron
Kamaljit Thandi, head of the NSPCC helpline, added: “We know that abuse can have a devastating and often lasting impact.
“This storyline reinforces how difficult it can be for those who are victims of non-recent abuse to process and come to terms with what has happened to them.
“It can also be hard for men to speak openly about these experiences, particularly when the perpetrator is female.
“That’s one of the reasons we are really pleased that EastEnders is raising awareness of such an important issue and we hope that this storyline will help to give those who find themselves in a similar position to Mick, and any other victims of abuse, the courage to speak up.”
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Katy Lewis will arrive in Albert Square in the coming weeks BBC
Alex Feis-Bryce, CEO of SurvivorsUK, continued: “They have approached the subject with sensitivity and taken into account the voices and experiences of survivors throughout.
“Research suggests that it takes male survivors an average of 26 years to speak out and seek support and the impact of sexual violence can be devastating.
“When I was raped as a teenager I felt so alone partly because I’d been socialised to believe that this was something which doesn’t happen to men and it took me years to speak about it properly to anyone. I know many of the people we support at SurvivorsUK experience similar feelings.”
It has already been confirmed that Katy will be arriving in Albert Square in the coming weeks, with former Bad Girls actor Simone Labhib taking on the role.
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EastEnders airs Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays on BBC One.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-13--Trump Promises 'Big Fat To Kiss' To Everyone At First Rally Since Covid-19 Diagnosis

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Donald Trump has returned to the campaign trail for the first time since being diagnosed with Covid-19, bragging he is now “powerful”, “immune” and joking he is healthy enough to give a “big fat kiss” to everyone in the audience.
Speaking at an outdoor rally in Sanford, Florida, the US president gave an emphatic defence of his handling of the pandemic that has killed 215,000 Americans, to a crowd observing no social-distancing and little mask-wearing.
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“I went through it now. They say I’m immune. I feel so powerful,” Trump told the crowd during his hour-long remarks.
“I’ll walk into that audience. I’ll walk in there. I will kiss everyone in that audience, I will kiss the guys and the beautiful women, I will give you a big fat kiss.”
Though he was admitted to hospital battling the virus just days ago, Trump’s message on Covid-19 was unaltered since his diagnosis: a dubious assessment that the pandemic was almost a thing of the past.
Hundreds of people in the US continue to die from the virus every day.
Speaking of the top-class treatment he received which has been out of reach for most Americans, he said: “We are going to take whatever the hell they gave me and we are going to distribute it to hospitals.”
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His voice was perhaps a touch scratchy but otherwise, Trump appeared to be his usual self.
SIPA USA/PA Images
Trump’s return to his signature campaign rallies kicked off a three-week sprint to the November 3 election.
The Republican president, 74, is seeking to change the dynamics of a race that national opinion polls and some key state polls show he is losing to his Democratic rival Joe Biden, who is 77.
At an event in Ohio, Biden criticised Trump’s efforts to stump before crowds, saying the president’s “conduct since his diagnosis has been unconscionable”.
“The longer Donald Trump is president, the more reckless he seems to get," he said.
Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious-disease expert, told CNN on Monday people who recovered from Covid-19 were likely to be immune for a limited period of time, but there are cases emerging of people being re-infected weeks or months later.
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Dr Fauci questioned the wisdom of holding such an event, noting test positivity rates were climbing in parts of the Sun Belt.
“We know that that is asking for trouble when you do that,” Dr Fauci said.
Trump’s rally came hours after the White House said he had tested negative for Covid-19 on consecutive days and was not infectious to others.
They were the president’s first negative Covid-19 tests announced by the White House since Trump said on October 2 that he contracted the virus.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-13--Maskless Trump Photo Pretty Much Sums Up His Presidency, Critics Say

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A photo of an unmasked President Donald Trump boarding Air Force One outraged critics on social media Monday.
The image, posted by New York Times photographer Doug Mills, shows Trump surrounded by masked Secret Service agents as he approaches the plane bound for Sanford, Florida, where he held a rally, even though he was in the hospital battling Covid-19 just a week ago.
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His White House physician, Sean Conley, said Monday that Trump had tested negative for the coronavirus and was no longer infectious, a claim health experts have questioned. Trump has claimed that he is now “immune” from the virus that has killed more than 215,000 people in the US.
Trump announced on October 2 that he had tested positive for the virus. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises that patients who were hospitalised or needed oxygen (both of which apply to Trump) may need to remain isolated for up to 20 days.
.@realDonaldTrump boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Md, for a campaign rally in Orlando, Florida. pic.twitter.com/PbKvSYoahf — Doug Mills (@dougmillsnyt) October 12, 2020
Critics were outraged that Trump ― who was protecting himself from the rain with an umbrella ― opted not to wear a face mask to protect those around him from the coronavirus that he could still be shedding.
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The recklessness of Trump’s presidency, summarized in one unbelievable picture. https://t.co/PpCdlBilOR — Matt McDermott (@mattmfm) October 12, 2020
Even if you have never read a single tweet or heard a single one of his Tinkerbell magical thinking lies - this photo alone tells you he cares about no one or nothing but himself. https://t.co/rAm5MTPAnp — Katherine Fugate (@katherinefugate) October 12, 2020
siri show me a picture of everyone secretly hating someone https://t.co/8SNdOJZFiy — Spooky Skoog (@Skoog) October 12, 2020
Still no mask. We don't know if he has tested negative yet, when he first tested positive, or if he is still contagious. Hard to fathom. https://t.co/xYywfmTNQb — Amy Siskind (@Amy_Siskind) October 12, 2020
How is it possible that he is not wearing a mask??? https://t.co/lfVtGuCfAk — Zac Petkanas (@Zac_Petkanas) October 12, 2020
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Everyone can SUCK MY GERMS, but if you think I’ll let MY FUCKING HAIR get wet, you’ve got another thing coming! https://t.co/oUYjixQvSD — David Waldman-1, of Yorktown LLC™ (@KagroX) October 12, 2020
Trump just boarded Air Force One without a mask while sick with a disease that has infected nearly 8 million Americans and killed 215,000 https://t.co/Dh5gQJGy6G — Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) October 12, 2020
No one is getting paid enough to be on a plane with this man. https://t.co/f4da2X3X5O — James Gleick (@JamesGleick) October 12, 2020
Hey, Hey, Typhoid Trump How Many Innocent Support Staffers/Secret Service/Military Guards Did You Infect Today? https://t.co/JTKxAD80M0 — Rachel "The Doc" Bitecofer 📈🔭🍌 (@RachelBitecofer) October 12, 2020
Pictured here: A man that doesn’t give a f**k about anyone but himself. #VoteBiden #WokeAF https://t.co/Wzj8GEBrpo — Danielle Moodie (@DeeTwoCents) October 12, 2020
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-13--Hiker Films Terrifying 6-Minute Cougar Chase: 'Thought I Was Done For'

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A nail-biting video shows a hiker being followed by a cougar for nearly six minutes on a trail in Utah.
“I thought I was done for,” Kyle Burgess wrote in an Instagram post about his encounter on Saturday in Slate Canyon, near Provo.
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The seasoned hiker said he’d come across cougar cubs while on a trail run, and “their mother was not happy to see me.”
In the expletive-laden footage, Burgess is heard yelling and roaring in an effort to signal the cat to back off. He backs away along the track as the cat follows, charging toward him several times with teeth and claws bared.
“Go away! Go get your babies,” Burgess is heard shouting at one point.
After six minutes of pursuit, the animal finally runs back in the direction it came from.
In an interview with NBC News, Burgess said, “I definitely thought I was going to get hurt.”
“My adrenalin was pumping so much,” he said.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-13--Johnson & Johnson Halts Covid-19 Vaccine Trial After Mystery Illness

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Johnson & Johnson has temporarily halted its US trial of a vaccine for Covid-19 after a test volunteer developed a mysterious illness.
It’s the second time in two months that a Covid-19 vaccine trial has been halted following an unexplained illness in a test subject, raising concerns about the safety of the vaccines and dampening expectations of a quick fix for the pandemic.
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Researchers conducting the Johnson & Johnson trial, which includes 60,000 volunteers around the world, were told Monday to pause testing of the single-dose vaccine. The New Jersey-based corporation is one of a handful of companies in the world that has reached the final phase of testing on people.
“We have temporarily paused further dosing in all our Covid-19 vaccine candidate clinical trials ... due to an unexplained illness in a study participant,” according to a statement from the company. More details will be revealed after the trial participant’s condition is more thoroughly evaluated, the statement said.
“We are committed to providing transparent updates throughout the clinical development process of our vaccine candidate,” it added.
It also assured that “adverse events — illnesses, accidents, etc. — even those that are serious, are an expected part of any clinical study, especially large studies.”
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Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine trial hits a hurdle. Andrei Stanescu via Getty Images
UK drugmaker AstraZeneca last month temporarily stopped tests of its vaccine candidate after a trial participant fell ill. That trial has resumed in several countries but not the US. It has been considered a leading contender in the race toward an effective and safe vaccine.
AstraZeneca, which is working with Oxford University, is awaiting a decision from US regulators on whether it can resume tests in America, according to Bloomberg. The clinical trial participant who became ill is from Britain.
Both cases are a wake-up call about the hurdles to developing a reliable vaccine. President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that a Covid-19 vaccine would be available by the November 3 election, but most experts predict one or more might be available deep into 2021.
Dr. Ashish Jha, the dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, told CNN’s Chris Cuomo that such a testing pause is “completely expected” during the development of a vaccine. Jha also called it a “reminder of how ridiculous it is to try and meet a political timeline of having a vaccine before November 9.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-13--Pubs Like Mine Have Become Scapegoats For The Government’s Covid Failures

itsarasak thithuekthak via Getty Images
2020 has been a year unlike any other for all of us – not least those of in the pubs and brewing industry.
I’ve been a licensee at The Boot in St Albans for 16 years as well as two other pubs, The Plough in Sleapshyde and Dylans on George Street, and I’ve never experienced anything like this year. From a full-on closure for over 100 days to patchy restrictions and curfews since, most of us in the pubs trade have been scrambling to make heads or tails of our ‘new normal’.
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Let me be clear – for me, health and safety is of paramount importance as we fight to contain coronavirus and its impact on the communities we live in. No one wants to see cases spike or hospital beds full. As a pub-owner, I am 100% behind evidence-based restrictions, and the hospitality industry has been at the forefront of creating Covid-safe environments. Us pub-owners have become accustomed to Perspex, contact tracing, hand sanitising and temperature checks, we’ve spent millions to make our venues safe and have followed every revision and curveball the government has thrown at us in its fight to combat the pandemic.
Due to these extra provisions and the reduced consumer confidence in pub-going, our revenue is down to 45-50% on what it was this time last year. Before the 10pm curfew came into place, it was probably closer to about 60%, which means that small safety net has been completely eroded in the last few weeks.
“Our revenue is down to 45-50% on what it was this time last year. Before the 10pm curfew came into place, it was probably closer to about 60%.”
Trying to herd people out of the pub at 10 in a hospitable way has been a nightmare, because our visitors of course want to stay until the last minute. Kicking everyone out in one go onto the streets goes against everything a pub stands for, and it’s been incredibly difficult on our staff who have to work hard to get that balance of being polite right with adhering to safety standards.
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Tips and hours have been cut, so our staff are not earning anything close to what they have received in the past. For those staff who will be put back on furlough, 67% of their wages simply isn’t good enough. These people still need to pay their rent. Future closure is going to cost a huge amount for pub owners as well, and new grants won’t touch the sides of it.
Despite our investments, our willingness to change our business model, layouts and staff procedures, pubs continue to be tarred as a scapegoat for Covid-19. We’ve seen no persuasive evidence to date that pubs and hospitality are the hub of spreading the infection, yet we’re being targeted with increasing erratic and unthought out restrictions and measures.
The 10pm curfew is a great example of this. From what I can see, it has been an absolute disaster. People are kicked out of a Covid-safe pub and left to congregate in the streets or head back to private residences to continue with their evening. There are no safety restrictions in people’s homes, which makes them a much more likely spot for Covid transmissions than the supervised setting of a pub environment. To me, it’s a measure that simply hasn’t been thought through.
I think it’s inevitable that we are entering a second wave as university students head back to campus, schools reopen and the rest of us are encouraged back to work. What is frustrating to me as a pub-owner is that we seem to be walking blindly into it rather than looking at what the actual underlying causes are. I fully expect to be closing my business again in the coming weeks. When that happens, it is vital that government support is forthcoming.
“Without ongoing support and greater transparency and clarity for the beer and pub sector, I fear many will close their doors for good.”
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The most important thing is having a decent furlough system in place, which has thankfully just been announced. Our staff have gone through enough this year, they need security that they will be able to make ends meet when our business is closed once again. Alongside this, we need weekly support of business grants to remain viable over the next six months.
The best way forward would be for the government to help pub companies by covering the interest payable on their loans attached to property whilst guaranteeing the capital holiday provided by their banks during a closure period. This would be conditional on the pub owning companies passing 80-90% reductions in rent to the publicans during the period.
My hope is that when we do close we will continue to be able to offer a delivery service for our regulars. We’re very lucky in St Albans to have a lot of local support and many people in our area will go out of their way to support us.
I hope too that people in St Albans and beyond will think about their local as the Christmas season approaches. Plenty of pubs and brewers offer takeaway real ale and gin packages that will make a perfect Christmas present, and I hope people will support locals over the supermarkets and Amazon.
Just last week, Greene King announced that they will be laying off hundreds of jobs and closing a third of their pub estate. This is just the first of what I expect will be many announcements and closures to come. Without ongoing support and greater transparency and clarity for the beer and pub sector, I fear many will close their doors for good, and likely just in time for Christmas.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-13--Couch To 26.2 Miles – Six Lessons From My First Ever Marathon

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“Oh, I didn’t realise you were a runner.”
That’s what people said to me when I told them I’d signed up for the London Marathon in October 2019. I didn’t like it. What makes someone a ‘runner’?
I wasn’t a pro, by any means. I’d done some running: I’d joined a few parkruns that summer – and before that, I’d only run in school (and hated it). So when people gave me that response, I thought best not to clarify how little I’d run before. I also hid the fact I didn’t own any of the right gear – especially shoes. I definitely needed to buy shoes.
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“It doesn’t matter!” I defensively declared. “I’ll train. It’ll be just like couch to 5k, but a bit further!” Cue blank faces, concerned expressions, worried looks – and some manic Googling (from me).
Hours later, I emerged from a rabbit hole of gait analysis, isotonic gel reviews and graphic toenail funerals – and felt like I might have underestimated what lay ahead. Perhaps this was a bigger deal that I’d originally thought. Perhaps I wasn’t a runner.
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That was a year ago. But now, I smugly look back on that moment and know my instinct that the concept of a ‘runner’ is flawed. Anyone can be one – as long as you stay focused and put the work in, you can do it. Because I did.
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I recently ran the London Marathon. No, surprisingly not with the elite runners in St James’ Park. I was one of 43,000 people taking part virtually across the UK and internationally.
The pandemic pushed the original April 2019 date back to October, then again a full year to 2021. Runners with or without a place were invited to still complete the mileage on the day. And I knew straight away I wanted to do it – to be a part of something unique and actually achieve something I set out to do in 2020.
I’ve learned a lot over the past year about running, motivation, mental health and myself – horribly cheesy, but true. I certainly don’t know it all but I’ve come a long way and I hope to go even further.
Here are six lessons learned from someone who basically went from couch to 26.2 miles.
1. Not every run will be fun. Not even close.
Some days I’d feel exhausted after barely getting out the door. I’d be too hot, too cold, too wet (especially on marathon day, nice one Storm Alex), tired, drained, frustrated, fragile – sometimes all at once. Other days, I’d feel like I was gliding along gracefully without a care in the world.
Maybe it’s too obvious to say each run has its ups and downs, but my advice? Try and turn them into learnings. I found it mentally reassuring to accept this will happen – so prepare for it, and be prepared to push past it.
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2. You often need to quiet your inner critic.
Socially distance yourself from the voice in your head that will chip away at your motivation. Yes, you can do it; no, you don’t need to stop; pfft, you don’t look silly. This is especially relevant on the day – virtual or otherwise.
Nick Anderson, who works for Running With Us, Cancer Research UK’s Official London Marathon coach, pointed out an unexpected benefit of the lack of a start line this year: “It took the pressure of there being 40,000 people you think might be fitter than you.” Next year, I’ll try to make sure I think the same way.
3. Injuries should be taken seriously.
A fond memory from the early days of training is scoffing at the idea I might injure myself. Turns out, going from ‘Not Much Running’ to ‘Quite A Bit Of Running’ can be a shock to the system. I rolled my ankle in December – it was nothing serious and I was lucky to see a physio, but it put my training back a few weeks.
Many common injuries are down to bad form or from taking on too much too soon (guilty, on both counts). There’s plenty of useful and reliable videos, exercises and tips online to better educate yourself and hopefully avoid this.
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4. Planning how you’ll refuel can be overwhelming but worthwhile.
Pre- and post-run nutrition requires some planning, but what you take during a run is a whole other level. There are so many products out there – from gels to sweets to powders. At first, I wasn’t even sure how necessary they were, but having tried and tested a few (recommended, so you see what you can stomach) I realised how helpful they were. Now, I wouldn’t be without them.
The key is to consume before you feel like you need to and at regular intervals. Anderson advised every 30-45 minutes, or every four miles. For me, squeezy gel sachets worked perfectly. For others they can cause a different type of, ahem, running.
5. Running with others helps you break down what’s ahead.
The merits of running groups are well documented, and I can see why. Of course, it can be good to get out on your own and see how you do, without the distraction of someone to chat to. But I found running in a small group was the best way for me to practise pacing, make the long-runs seem less daunting. Plus, it ensured I actually got myself out the door as the nights got darker and colder.
I ran the virtual marathon with my friend in Cornwall – and it really did make the whole experience 10 times more enjoyable.
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6. You’ll continually surprise yourself.
My training was going well until the lockdown, when it dropped off a cliff. I never stopped completely, part of me clinging onto the idea it might still go ahead. And I surprised myself with how keen I was to run 26.2 miles with no supporters, atmosphere or fanfare.
There’s no denying it wasn’t the same as the real thing, but I took full advantage of the opportunities I suddenly had. Not stressing about time? Stop and soak up the surroundings. About to run six miles head-on into a storm? Sit in a warm car and psyche yourself up to finish.
I knew training for the London Marathon would be draining under normal circumstances – never mind through a global pandemic. And it may not have worked out the way I expected, but I feel extremely fortunate to have been healthy enough to finish it safely. Here’s hoping things are brighter next year, in every sense (seriously, no more storms).
Covid-19 put Cancer Research UK’s life-saving research on pause. To help the charity get back on track to continue its vital work visit cruk.org/give.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-13--Exclusive: NHS Coronavirus App Forced To Upgrade After ‘Covid-19 Exposure’ Glitch

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The government has been forced to upgrade its NHS Covid app to reassure smartphone users worried by alert messages suggesting they have been exposed to the virus, HuffPost UK can reveal.
The NHS app, downloaded by more than 16 million Brits since its launch nearly three weeks ago, has been sending alerts to people with the tag line “Possible Covid-19 Exposure”.
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But in many cases, the notification simply disappeared once clicked on and was not followed by any official confirmation of contact with others who carry coronavirus.
Now the department of health and social care has admitted that the so-called “ghost notifications” are a glitch caused by Apple and Google’s own bluetooth technology on their phones and are a default privacy setting that it cannot change.
However, following widespread concern it has decided from Tuesday October 13 to amend the app to send a follow-up notification making clear that the message can be ignored in cases where a close contact has not been strong enough.
The follow-up message from the app will read: “COVID-19 Exposure Check Complete. Don’t worry, we have assessed your risk and there is no need to take action at this time. Please continue to stay alert and follow the latest advice on social distancing.”
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For those who have been deemed to have been close contact with someone who later tests positive for the virus, the message from the app will read “The app has detected that you have been in contact with someone who has coronavirus. Please stay at home and self-isolate to keep yourself and others safe.”
A red countdown timer clock will then animate within the app, listing clearly how many days of home quarantine are advised.
A DHSC spokesperson said: “NHS Covid-19 app users only need to self-isolate if they get a notification directly from the app advising them to do so.”
Following an update to the app on 13 October, users who receive a default exposure notification from Apple or Google but do not need to take any action will now be sent a follow-up message from the app making this clear, it added.
The message many users have complained about on Twitter read: “Possible Covid-19 Exposure. Verifying exposure info. The app has accessed the date, duration and signal strength of this exposure.”
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Others messages said: “Someone you were near reported having Covid-19. Exposure date, duration and signal strength have been saved.”
so what exactly is one supposed to do with an alert like this about “possible covid-19 exposure”? there is literally no other information pic.twitter.com/YFGdQmrpLM — Tracy Chou (@triketora) October 12, 2020
So I got a possible COVID exposure notification, had a mini heart attack, then found that there was nothing in the NHS app and it was just a glitch. What an absolute mess 🤣🤣 — Jodie ✨ (@Jodiewithie) October 12, 2020
I’ve had that bug/glitch on the app twice now coming up regarding possible exposure to COVID-19...freaked me out first time as was 6.30am! Was on way to work with not a single person in the vicinity! had to go on here to find out was a bug/glitch w/ the app — Andrew Leason (@ANDREW0675) October 12, 2020
Love getting endless sinister alerts from the NHS app telling me about a possible COVID exposure with absolutely no detail or subsequent follow-through... it’s really doing wonders for my paranoia this pandemic season! ✨ — Freya Judd (@FreyaJudd) October 12, 2020
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To add to the confusion, although the NHS website had a reference to the problem, the app’s own ‘Common Questions’ section failed to offer any reassurance to users who had received ghost notifications.
Shadow health minister Justin Madders said even tougher action was possibly needed.
“It is vital for public confidence that alerts on the app should only be triggered by genuine circumstances.
“There is too much pressure on Test and Trace as it is for there to be resources wasted on tests when people don’t need them, never mind the individual anxiety this causes. These issues must be fixed without delay.”
Apple and Google’s bluetooth tech is designed to preserve users’ privacy, while allowing Android and iOS-powered smartphones to keep tabs on who they have been close to.
The “Exposure Notification” API uses Bluetooth to determine whether – at some point during the last two weeks – an app user has been close to someone who later tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The information is kept anonymous to restrict the amount of health and location data stored on phones.
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But the Bluetooth tech is not sensitive enough to work out exactly how long or how close a possible Covid carrier has been to someone else and the app itself refines the information with more data from its risk-scoring algorithm.
The DHSC’s advice is that if anyone is concerned or confused when they receive a notification, they should simply open the app and take the advice from inside the app.
What the official NHS Covid App selif-isolation alert should look like HuffPost UK
The ‘Exposure Notifications’ are default privacy notifications from Apple and Google to alert people that the app is sharing information with the Application Programming Interface (API) – the software intermediary that allows two applications to talk to each other.
The Apple or Google notifications, titled either “COVID-19 EXPOSURE LOGGING” or “COVID-19 Exposure” notifications, often disappear after or cannot be clicked on.
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Government insiders stressed that this was the same Apple and Google Exposure Notification software used on Covid apps in other countries, but the most important messages from the NHS app will always be visible once it is opened.
Messages from the NHS COVID-19 app will not ‘disappear’ when clicked on, and users will be able to see the advice within the app when opened.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-13--What The 'Pandemic Gap Year' Looks Like

What The 'Pandemic Gap Year' Looks Like

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Making the most of your flight’s flexible return date by partying with friends on the other side of the world for longer. Learning new skills by immersing yourself in another culture. Visiting a Wonder of the World and contemplating life back home.
These are all tropes of the classic gap year. But of course, gap years are a little different in 2020 – with international travel being tricky due to the virus. That isn’t to say people aren’t taking them, though – stats from Teaching Abroad Direct revealed a 9.4% increase in gap years taken this year compared to last.
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But instead of the traditional, year-long travelling experience, students are opting for something different – choosing to gain experience in the workplace, or ticking off bucket-list items closer to home.
Youth travel booking site, StudentUniverse, found 67% of UK students forced to delay a trip still hope to take it within the next year, too. “Students are fundamentally extremely eager to travel,” says Sam Willan, general manager of UK and Australia markets at StudentUniverse.
Willan has seen a trend of those hoping to travel exploring much closer to home. “We’re seeing a lot of last-minute flight bookings to nearby destinations within Europe as opposed to the typical gap year destinations of Asia and Australia,” he says.
“Looking forward to 2021, we’re expecting to see many youth and student travellers continuing to stay closer to home as they’ve been reminded this year what is on their doorstep.”
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The travel expert is predicting a new form of ethical travel tourism, too. “Many will be focused on giving back, visiting lesser known destinations and helping to spend money in communities hardest hit by the ongoing disruption of coronavirus,” he says.
monkeybusinessimages via Getty Images Travelling is still possible this year, and if done sensibly, could look good to employers and universities
Shine Mallorca, 19, from East Sussex, decided to to take a gap year because she didn’t know how things were going to work with uni – despite originally intending to go.
“I was really nervous of the uncertainty of things and didn’t want to commit to something I wasn’t fully prepared for,” she tells HuffPost UK.
With the virus still spreading, Shine thought a gap year would be a good idea so she could continue to work, study more, and save money. “I was worried at first, but it’s been one of the best decisions I ever made,” she says.
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Gap years needn’t involve travelling the world in order to force a reset, she says, especially after one of the most stressful years for A Level students in the exam’s history. “Even with a pandemic, a gap year was a good choice for me to take time off, even if it meant just staying at home,” she says.
“Travelling may be a bit risky right now, so me and my best friend both held off the plans of going abroad. Instead, we’ve found things like forest walks and hikes not too far from our town, and it’s still as fun and relaxing to us as any holiday would be,” she adds.
lzf via Getty Images Big trips are mostly being shelved until there's a vaccine
Sophia Solomou, 18, who recently completed her A Levels at St Margaret’s School in Hertfordshire, had been planning on starting university at Roehampton to study teaching, but decided to take a gap year when the virus took hold.
She’s chuffed with her decision. “After speaking to some of my friends who all have their lectures online, I’m really grateful,” she says. “They say it isn’t the university experience they hoped for.”
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Instead, Sophia has started a teaching assistant job, where so far, she’s gained lots of practical experience. “I feel like it’s time well spent already,” she says. “I really enjoy what I’m doing and I’m getting lots of experience for the future, so I feel when I go to university I’ll be a lot more equipped for the course I’m doing.”
Sophia says she swerved much of the controversy with the algorithm downgrading papers. Her psychology result was the only one lower than her teacher-predicted grades, but the government U-turn over using algorithm-predicted grades got the grade restored. “I was so pleased when I heard it had been put back to my initial grade,” she adds.
insta_photos via Getty Images Taking time to explore your own local area is as good as going abroad, say some
And it isn’t only Gen Z who are reaping the benefits of a 2020-2021 gap year they hadn’t planned. Luke Haslett, 30, from Belfast, had intended to return to university to do an MA this year – but the pandemic meant his research project wouldn’t have been possible.
“I made the decision to focus on launching a new business, with the university agreeing to allow me to complete the research in the summer of 2021,” he says.
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Luke hopes to exploit cheaper opportunities to go skiing over the winter. He’s going to spend a couple of months living abroad where he can ski and run his digital marketing company.
“It’s trying to make the most of the situation really,” he says. “I’d planned to go to Dubai and I had friends in Tanzania, but that got completely taken off the table.”
Anna Gorbacheva via Getty Images Most students are being taught virtually this year, with infrequent trips to campus
Of course, Luke is privileged to be able to work with his business while travelling, as many younger people face further barriers before they can travel, due to financial constraints and quarantine restrictions.
But for those who can afford it – or who are able to save up now, and go before they start uni in 2021 – Willan believes travelling is still possible for many.
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Those wishing to flee the UK should be aware of daily-changing restrictions in international territories, he says, but that shouldn’t let that deter them from travelling safely. “Preparation and awareness is key,” says Willan, who urges that youth travellers “shouldn’t see this as a hindrance”.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-13--Is It Okay To Borrow Money From Friends And Family Right Now?

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With businesses struggling and the furlough scheme coming to an end, a lot of people’s finances are stretched right now – so they’re turning to their parents for help.
A fifth of adults have borrowed money from their parents during the pandemic, according to a survey from the Saga Equity Release Advice Service.
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The research found some parents have dipped into their savings to help their adult children, while others have had to cut back on spending themselves.
It raises the question: is it okay to borrow money from parents (or other friends and family) if you’ve been hit hard financially by the pandemic?
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Dee Holmes, a relationship counsellor from Relate, warns that asking to borrow money can cause friction with loved ones – and pressurise them to put their finances at risk. “You may feel obliged to lend money you can’t afford because of your relationship with the person asking,” she tells HuffPost UK.
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“Parents often feel they should lend money. Children sometimes borrow it not actually expecting to pay it back.”
Resentments can occur if someone lends money for essentials, such as rent or food, then sees the borrower spending money on things they consider to be luxuries.
“Certainly, between generations, there will be different ideas of what is essential,” says Holmes. “And in lending money, the lender may feel they have some rights to dictate what the person spends money on.”
If the money isn’t paid back as agreed, you run the risk of a huge family row – or damaging a friendship for good.
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But Ellie Austin-Williams, a financial coach and founder of This Girl Talks Money, thinks if done cautiously, borrowing money from loved ones can work.
“In many cases, it offers an interest-free and low-risk way of making ends meet,” she tells HuffPost UK. “If communication between everyone involved is clear and open, there’s no reason why borrowing from friends or family can’t be a good solution for all parties, particularly when the alternative is expensive consumer debt.”
To ensure the loan doesn’t impact your relationship, Austin-Williams says it’s vital to have an honest discussion about your boundaries from the start.
“Regardless of whether you’re the borrower or the lender, make sure you’re in agreement about the terms of the loan,” she says. “Firstly, make sure it’s very clear it’s a loan and not a gift. Also make sure you’re on the same page about the amount owed, the length of the loan, how and when it’ll be repaid and whether any interest is to be paid on top of the initial amount.”
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Of course, not everyone has the option of borrowing from friends and family – and some may feel the risk to others isn’t worth it.
If you’re in this situation and struggling to pay your bills, Austin-Williams recommends reviewing your spending and setting yourself a monthly budget to help you stay within your means financially. If your income has dropped, be sure to check whether you’re eligible for any government help.
“In certain industries, there are grants available to help support workers struggling financially in the pandemic,” she says.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-13--From Morticia To Bellatrix: 10 Baby Names Inspired By Halloween

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Halloween, or All Hallows Eve, comes from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which saw people light bonfires and wear spooky costumes to scare off ghosts.
Although nowadays, it’s more about trick-or-treating, carving pumpkins and eating sweets.
If you’re pregnant, the spookiest night of the year – October 31 – offers some unique naming opportunities for your baby witch, wizard, ghoul or goblin.
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We have a wealth of baby name inspiration on HuffPost UK Parents. Here are 10 of the best monster monikers.
Wednesday
Wednesday, meaning ‘Woden’s day’ – or Mercury day – was made famous by spooky youngster Wednesday Addams in iconic movie The Addams Family.
Adam
Comes from the Hebrew word ‘adamah’, which means ‘the ground’ or ‘earth’. Also goes well with Wednesday, for obvious reasons – perfect if you have twins!
Bellatrix
Bellatrix comes from ‘bellator’, the Latin word for ‘warrior’. It’s also the name of the character played by Helena Bonham-Carter in the Harry Potter film series: Bellatrix Lestrange.
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Angel
The name Angel comes from the Greek and means ‘messenger of God’. It’s also the name of the vampire, lover and ally to Buffy in hit TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Carrie
Carrie is an English name, often used as a short form for Caroline or Carolyn. But it’s also the name of Carrie White, lead character in Stephen King’s first horror novel, Carrie, published in 1974.
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Casper
The name Casper, meaning ‘treasurer’, can be traced back as far as the Old Testament – but it’s also the name of one cute, white, chubby friendly ghost.
Freddy
A pet form of the name Frederick, meaning ‘ruler’ or ‘power’, it also conjures up the name for one of 1980s film’s scariest characters: Freddy Krueger.
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Morticia
Another Addams Family favourite, Morticia comes from the Latin for ‘mortis’, meaning ‘death’. Morticia always wears black.
Merlin
Merlin comes from the Welsh, meaning ‘sea fortress’. It’s also the name of the famous wizard who was King Arthur’s mentor.
Sabrina


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-13--First UK Case Of Permanent Hearing Loss Linked To Covid-19

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Doctors have reported the first UK case of permanent hearing loss linked to Covid-19 – and they want everyone to be aware of it as a potential side effect.
To date, a handful of studies have explored a possible link between the virus and hearing loss, but with few reported cases to analyse, experts urged caution, describing the data as “poor quality”.
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Now though, doctors believe they have witnessed a case with no other explanation here in the UK.
A 45-year-old man was referred to the ear nose and throat department at their hospital after suddenly experiencing hearing loss in one ear after being treated for Covid-19.
Eric Raptosh Photography via Getty Images
The man had previously been treated in the hospital’s intensive care unit as he was struggling to breathe with Covid-19 symptoms. He was put on a ventilator for 30 days and developed other complications as a result. He was treated with remdesivir, intravenous steroids and a blood transfusion, after which he started to get better.
But a week after the breathing tube was removed and he left intensive care, he noticed ringing (tinnitus) in his left ear, followed by sudden hearing loss.
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The doctors noted that the man had not lost his hearing or had ear problems before and, apart from asthma, he was otherwise fit and well.
Examination of the man’s ear canals revealed he had no blockages or inflammation, but a hearing test confirmed he had substantially lost his hearing in the left ear. The man was treated with steroid tablets and injections, after which his hearing partially recovered.
After testing the man for other possible causes of sudden hearing loss –including rheumatoid arthritis, flu and HIV – the doctors concluded that it was associated with the Covid-19 infection.
Professor Kevin Munro, a professor of audiology at The University of Manchester, previously told HuffPost UK a link between Covid-19 and hearing loss is possible, as this is seen with other viruses such as measles and mumps.
However, he urged caution when interpreting early study results, because there are a number of other reasons why a hospital inpatient may report changes to their hearing, including the fact it’s an unusual environment and face masks may change our perception of hearing.
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Anxiety about the pandemic may also lead to people reporting symptoms, plus it could be that drugs used to treat Covid-19 cause hearing loss, rather than the virus itself.
In the new report, published in the British Medical Journal, the doctors gave their views on why the 45-year-old man may have experienced hearing loss.
SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for Covid-19, is thought to lock on to a particular type of cell lining the lungs, they explain. Recently, the virus has been found in similar cells lining the middle of the ear. SARS-CoV-2 also generates an inflammatory response and an increase in the chemicals that have been linked to hearing loss.
“This is the first reported case of sensorineural hearing loss following Covid-19 infection in the UK,” wrote the report authors. “Given the widespread presence of the virus in the population and the significant morbidity of hearing loss, it is important to investigate this further.”
Although Covid-related hearing loss is thought to be uncommon, the authors call for greater awareness of the possibility, because if it’s detected early enough, steroid treatment may prevent total hearing loss.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-13--Keir Starmer Gives Boris Johnson – And The Country – A Clear Alternative

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When he appeared on the Andrew Marr Show on the eve of his ‘virtual’ party conference nine days ago, Boris Johnson defended his coronavirus strategy with this dismissive swipe at his critics: “We haven’t had any alternative suggestions. No one has come up with any better proposals that I’m aware of.“
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Well, thanks to the bombshell Sage document dump of Monday night, we now know that’s an inverted pyramid of piffle. A fortnight before his Marr appearance, his own scientific advisers had indeed recommended a string of bold alternatives, and they were measures that made his piecemeal local lockdowns look both confused and inadequate.
Of course, Johnson’s jibe was aimed not at Sage but squarely at Keir Starmer. Yes, ‘Captain Hindsight’, the ‘flip-flopper’ on school reopening was also chopping and changing his line on supporting the government on Covid. His view of the “sniping, carping” Labour leader conjured up that infamous phrase used by actors about theatre critics: like eunuchs at an orgy, they just don’t get it.
Well, after Starmer’s live televised address (complete with ‘New Leadership’ lectern branding) produced that really big alternative of a three-week Covid “circuit breaker”, maybe the PM should be careful what he wished for. If Johnson couldn’t handle the concept of constructive criticism, he may find out that the destructive kind is even worse.
Now it’s true that Starmer has been monk-like in his adherence to his own gospel of constructive opposition. When I raised with his shadow cabinet minister Steve Reed last month the idea of Labour getting ahead of the government with its own plan for tougher restrictions, he replied: “Labour doesn’t want to add to the confusion by proposing alternative rules that people should or shouldn’t be following at this time. I don’t actually think we should be trying to ‘get ahead’ of the government, that’s playing politics.”
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Well, the good folks of Channel 4’s Gogglebox had their own verdict on the limits of that approach. In a memorable rinsing of Starmer’s tactics, normally loyal Labour voters were seen watching him on Marr equivocating over his support for the PM’s policies, and then yelled: “But what would YOU do?!!” Sophie in Blackpool said surely he needed to stop being “Captain Hindsight” and start being “Bruce Foresight” (God, I love a bonkers pun).
Foresight will be Starmer’s new weapon if the PM is indeed forced into a circuit break in a few weeks’ time. If Johnson refuses to heed his call, and hospitalisations and deaths keep rising, the Labour leader will be in a stronger position to speculate that the world could have been different if only his plan had been followed.
Of course, there is a live lab experiment going on in the sense that Scotland’s own circuit break has been started by Nicola Sturgeon (though on a much smaller scale). If that fails to make an impact, Johnson could well be the one crowing. So today’s announcement is not without risks.
Although Starmer’s move was undeniably a big moment in the politics of the pandemic in the UK, the way he has inched his way towards his current position mirrors the way he nudged Labour towards a second Brexit referendum. Johnson will be hoping that this shift too is as much of an historic mistake for Labour, and he’ll push hard that Starmer doesn’t care about jobs or the economy.
The Labour leader was stunningly vague about the costings of his proposal, apart from a generality that failure to act would cost more money in the long run. His team may argue that in fact many of Rishi Sunak’s own big policies have been unfunded spending commitments, paid by extra borrowing.
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Yet with Johnson portrayed as a prisoner of Sunak’s opposition to further lockdown, Starmer gets to kill two birds with one stone with his new announcement. His call for full compensation for businesses closed down in the three-week period highlights the chancellor’s own Achilles heel in coming weeks: the final removal of furlough at the end of October.
At the same time, he is reminding the public that the PM seems to be putting wealth ahead of health. Only today, No.10 told us that the reason Sage’s advice was rejected was because it receives advice not just from scientists but from “economists” and “ultimately for ministers to make decisions”.
There are other political benefits for Starmer too. He’s seen to be the defender of independent scientific advice, while using Sage to give him cover for his new policy. He exploits Tory splits (those liberty loving backbenchers were on the march tonight in decent numbers) while offering his support in any vote on a circuit break. He papers over Labour divisions about local lockdowns by creating a unifying, “we’re all in it together” set of national rules. And he also rams home his message that test-and-trace has to stop being a national outsourced disaster zone and start being a locally-run success.
Given that the public have shown in polls they want tougher curbs (YouGov shows a big majority for the circuit break tonight), Starmer is also managing to punch way above the weight of his rump of a party (and don’t forget its numbers in parliament are pitifully low). His emphasis on keeping schools open also underscores that this crisis is not just about “lives and livelihoods” but that third leg of “life chances”.
Most importantly, politics is often about owning the future, and if this comes off Starmer can say he owned it even for a few weeks. Taking the lead of his mayors Sadiq Khan (first to call for mask wearing) and Andy Burnham (first to call for local control of test and trace), he’s also learning that being bold can pay dividends.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-13--MPs Back Covid Lockdown Alert Levels And 10pm Curfew

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MPs have backed Boris Johnson’s 10pm curfew for pubs and three tier Covid-19 alert level system, despite a small rebellion from Tory backbenchers.
Three motions supporting the alert levels – medium, high or very high – for local lockdowns were waved through after a debate on Tuesday.
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But there was drama as Tory backbenchers staged a rebellion over the curfew for pubs by forcing a vote to underline their anger to the government over new restrictions.
They were unable to inflict a symbolic defeat on the government, however, as the motion was approved by 299 votes to 82.
The debate saw some Conservative backbenchers hit out.
Conservative MP Chris Green also resigned as a ministerial aide over the coronavirus restrictions on Tuesday night, saying the “attempted cure is worse than the disease”.
In a move that adds to the pressure on Johnson, Green, who represents Bolton West, said the Greater Manchester lockdown had “failed to control the number of positive tests” and there were “better alternatives to the government’s approach”.
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He wrote in a letter to the PM: “By taking the current approach to Covid-19 we are creating many other health problems, which are leading to pain, suffering and death.
“The closure of pubs, restaurants and cafes combined with the reduction of footfall on our high streets has brought many family-owned businesses in my constituency to the brink of collapse and pushed others over the edge.”
Prime minister Boris Johnson ASSOCIATED PRESS
Green voted against the curfew regulations as did a number of other “red wall” Tories, including Bishop Auckland’s Dehenna Davison and Stockton South’s Matt Vickers.
During the debate, Edward Leigh, Conservative MP for Gainsborough, said rebels were trying to “hold [the government] to account” over the economy, adding no MP wants to let this thing rip”.
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He said: “It’s up to us, it’s up to the older population, to take self responsibility and those who care for them. [...] We have to shield elderly people. They are the people at risk, but we have to get the country back to work.
“We simply cannot go on bailing out businesses – we are going bankrupt. [...] We have to allow people to work and therefore I think the whole approach needs to be changed.
“If we go on cancelling heart operations, if we drive people into mental health difficulties, if we close down businesses, we are paying a terrible price and there has to be a balance.”
It comes amid growing opposition to new restrictions among Conservative backbenchers and as Labour demands a “circuit breaker” three-week lockdown to clamp down on the virus.
Johnson said on Monday he was taking a “balanced approach” with the new three-tier system, but it has since emerged he ignored scientists’ advice to impose a slew of stringent measures, including a short national lockdown.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-13--2.2m People Most Vulnerable To Covid Won’t Get Food Parcels Under New Shielding Guidance

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The UK’s 2.2m people who have been “shielding” from Covid are unlikely to see any resumption of government-backed food parcels this winter, Downing Street has signalled.
Charities hit out over the lack of support after new guidance was issued to those with cancer, respiratory or other serious illnesses, who are classed as “extremely vulnerable” to the virus.
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Many of those affected saw their food deliveries stop in August, when the government “paused” its shielding programme.
But on Tuesday, the Department of Health and Social Care made clear that the pause in its programme was now indefinite, despite the rising levels of coronavirus in the community.
And when asked if those who had shielded would get food packages this winter, the prime minister’s official spokesperson said: “In terms of a return to the previous scheme, I’m not aware of anything in that regard, no.”
A return to a formal shielding program will only occur in very specific circumstances, at the request of chief medical officer Chris Whitty, and only for a very short period of time for a tightly defined group of people.
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In a big shift from advice earlier in the pandemic, people most at risk will be told to maintain their distance from others and meet socially outdoors if possible – but they will not have to effectively quarantine themselves.
A return to home isolation practice will only apply if the spread of the virus becomes exceptionally bad in specific “high risk” areas of the country, and even then for a short period of time rather than months as previously.
The new advice, issued by deputy chief medical officer Jenny Harries, is a “softer” approach to the harder measures seen at the height of the coronavirus outbreak and reflects confidence that mask-wearing and the “rule of six” limiting social contact are having an impact.
The decision follows concerns that many of those most at risk “over-interpreted” the guidance in March and April, taking it as an instruction or requirement rather than guidance.
Many of those involved didn’t leave home for many months until the system was paused on August 1 and some felt “imprisoned”, which was never the intention of the guidance, insiders said.
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But charities attacked the government for failing to have any proper plan in place for the winter amid increasing worry among those most at risk due to underlying health conditions.
Sarah MacFadyen, head of policy at Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation, said: “It’s important that the clinically extremely vulnerable group are able to access food in a safe way through priority deliveries or volunteer networks.
“However, if this is not possible, the government and councils should be providing a fallback option, such as food parcel deliveries.”
James Taylor, executive director of strategy, impact and social change at disability equality charity Scope, said: “Disabled people have been routinely forgotten throughout the pandemic, and many will now feel they are being abandoned.
“The lack of clarity in this guidance will only create more anxiety, worry and confusion for those most at risk.
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“Anyone told to shield who cannot work from home or survive on Statutory Sick Pay would have to quit their job so they can claim benefits. This is not a solution, and will have disastrous consequences for disability employment. The government must act now to protect the jobs of those most at risk, so nobody is forced to choose between their health and wages.
“Two thirds of all those who have died from Covid-19 were disabled people. We need a plan for supporting disabled people with their health, wellbeing and finances.”
PA
Gemma Peters, chief executive of Blood Cancer UK, said: “The government needs to urgently revise this guidance and give financial support to people with blood cancer who cannot work from home.
“This guidance also fails to offer specific mental health support. The mental health toll of the pandemic on people who have been shielding has been great, and so it is extremely disappointing that, six months on, there is no extra mental health support for people who are vulnerable to the coronavirus.”
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And the MS Society said vulnerable people deserved to know they would be supported through the crisis.
Labour’s shadow disabilities minister Vicky Foxcroft told HuffPost UK:“The updated guidance for people shielding is just too vague, seven months on, this is simply not good enough. People need to be able to plan and understand the support they will receive – they need clarity and urgently.”
The new guidance will be tied into the new Local Covid Alert Levels framework, meaning those at the highest risk of serious illness from the virus will receive specific advice depending on the level of risk in their local area, as coronavirus rates continue to rise.
The “clinically extremely vulnerable” group includes those with conditions affecting the immune system, certain cancers and organ transplant recipients amongst others.
Harries said: “Over the last few weeks, we’ve seen a sharp increase in the prevalence of the virus across the country and we know those who are clinically extremely vulnerable are looking for practical advice on how they can carry on their lives while the virus remains in our communities.
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“The new system will provide clarity on how best those in this group can keep themselves as safe as possible depending on the rates of transmission in their local area. Whilst advisory, I would urge all those affected to follow the guidance wherever they can and to continue to access health services for their medical conditions.
“We will continue to monitor the evidence closely and fine-tune this approach to make sure everyone in this group is clear about the safest way to go about their daily lives, particularly over the coming winter months.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-13--Keir Starmer Calls For 'Circuit Breaker' National Lockdown In England

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Keir Starmer has called for a two or three week national “circuit breaker” lockdown in England.
The Labour leader’s intervention comes after it was revealed Boris Johnson had rejected the same recommendation from his own scientific advisers.
Official papers published on Monday evening showed the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) suggested introducing a national lockdown in September lasting between two and three weeks to halt the rapid spread of coronavirus.
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The prime minister introduced the rule of six, the 10pm hospitality curfew and abandoned his push for people to return to offices.
Starmer said during a press conference on Tuesday that he wanted a “temporary set of clear and effective restrictions” designed to get the R rate down and “reverse the trend of infections and hospital admissions”.
“It would mean only essential work and travel. That everyone who can work from home should do so. Non-essential offices should be closed,” the Labour leader said.
“Household mixing should be restricted to one household except for those who’ve formed support ‘bubbles’.
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“And all pubs, bars and restaurants would be closed for two-to-three weeks – but compensated so that no business loses out because of the sacrifices we all need to make.”
Rumours had been circulating in Westminster that a half-term circuit breaker would be on the cards, but Johnson stopped short of imposing the tougher measures called for by Sage.
The scientists’ document, dated September 21, said a package of strict interventions, including a ban on households mixing, was needed to reverse the “exponential” rise in cases.
Sage also suggested the closure of all bars, restaurants, cafes, indoor gyms, and personal services such as hairdressers.
MPs will vote later on Tuesday on the government’s new three-tier system of restrictions for England.
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The system will see different areas put into categories labelled as medium, high or very high risk.
The medium level maintains current national restrictions, high-risk areas will see households banned from mixing indoors, while the third tier will see harsher restrictions including the closure of pubs – unless they can operate as a restaurant.
In a sign of a split between what the government’s scientific advisers want and what the government has so far been prepared to impose, England’s chief medical officer Chris Whitty said on Monday he was “not confident” that even the toughest local level can control Covid-19.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-13--Dominic West And Wife Shut Down Speculation Over Lily James Pictures With Note And Kiss

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Dominic West and wife Catherine FitzGerald have shut down speculation about their marriage by putting on a united public front.
Earlier this week, pictures emerged of the actor — without his wedding ring — cosying up to Lily James in Rome during a break in filming the upcoming miniseries The Pursuit of Love.
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The co-stars appeared to be living up to the title of the project, nuzzling each other’s necks during a lunch date, before zipping around the city on a shared electric scooter.
The photos sparked speculation of an on-set romance, putting Dominic, a father of five who has four children with wife Catherine FitzGerald, in a precarious position.
However, instead of letting the rumour mill run into overdrive, on Tuesday, he confronted the controversy head on.
Dominic West and wife Catherine FitzGerald, pictured together in 2019. Dia Dipasupil via Getty Images
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The actor held an impromptu press conference with Catherine outside of their home in the English countryside to address the state of their relationship.
“Our marriage is strong and we’re very much still together,” he told reporters, according to The Daily Mail and The Sun before the couple shared a kiss, while photographers snapped pictures.
And in case their stance wasn’t clear, the couple handed the press a note bearing the same message, which they both signed.
However, they declined to answer any further questions about Dominic cosying up to Lily, who has yet to comment publicly on the matter.
West and Lily James previously co-starred in a 2011 production of "Othello." David M. Benett via Getty Images
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Both The Daily Mail and The Sun noted that Dominic was still not wearing his wedding band on Monday, while FitzGerald seemed to conceal hers for the duration of the press conference.
The couple then reportedly returned to their home and later drove away with one of their children.
Dominic and Catherine, a landscape designer and descendent of Irish royalty, wed in 2010 and live part-time in her family’s historic 20,000-square-foot estate known as the Glin Castle.
Last year, Architectural Digest filmed a tour of the property with the couple.
Lily, meanwhile, recently split with her partner — The Crown star Matt Smith — after five years together and has since been linked to Captain America himself, Chris Evans.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-13--The Crown's Intense New Trailer Features Unexpected Cameo As It Depicts Charles And Diana Relationsh

The Crown's Intense New Trailer Features Unexpected Cameo As It Depicts Charles And Diana Relationship

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Netflix has debuted a new trailer for the fourth series of The Crown, and it is the most intense yet.
The promo takes a closer look and Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer’s relationship and subsequent marriage, and features a cameo from an unexpected figure.
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After the trailer debuted on Tuesday, Netflix tweeted to reveal the voice that can be heard narrating is actually that of the real Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runcie.
“Here is the stuff of which fairy tales are made.” Hmm, OK.
The Crown S4, coming 15 Nov. pic.twitter.com/an4m4oqL7U — Netflix UK & Ireland (@NetflixUK) October 13, 2020
His speech is the one he actually gave during Charles and Diana’s wedding in 1981.
Bonus teaser fact: The voice you can hear throughout this piece is the ~actual~ Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runcie, from the ~actual~ speech he gave during Charles and Diana’s wedding. (Sorry if that’s a spoiler.) — Netflix UK & Ireland (@NetflixUK) October 13, 2020
“Here is the stuff of which fairy tales are made,” he begins. “A prince and princess on their wedding day. But fairy tales usually end at this point with the simple phrase ‘They lived happily ever after’.
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“As husband and wife live out their vows, loving and cherishing one another, sharing life’s splendours and miseries, achievements and setbacks, they will be transformed in the process.
“Our faith sees the wedding day not as the place of arrival, but the place where the adventure really begins.”
Emma and Josh as Princess Diana and Prince Charles in the new season of The Crown Netflix
The trailer features the couple – played by Emma Corrin as Diana and Josh O’Connor as Charles – dancing happily together and Diana being greeted by crowds of adoring fans.
However it also shows the couple arguing, as well as a glimpse of Diana on her wedding day.
As well as shots of Olivia Colman reprising her role as the Queen and Helena Bonham Carter as Princess Margaret, it also offers a look at Gillian Anderson as Margaret Thatcher.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-13--How Netflix’s Deaf U Failed Deaf People – ‘We Are More Than Sign Language’

New to Netflix is Deaf U, the reality series focusing on the lives of a group of deaf people at Gallaudet University, a private college for the deaf and hard of hearing in Washington, DC in the US.
“As the group of friends navigate the high, lows, and hookups of college life together, their stories offer an unprecedented, unfiltered, and often unexpected look inside the Deaf community,” the show blurb states – however members of the deaf community feel the show isn’t an accurate depiction of the deaf experience and fails on diversity.
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“I think they absolutely should’ve cast a Black deaf woman, they are a highly marginalised group within our deaf community and should’ve had some involvement,” says Meredith Peruzzi, director of the National Deaf Life Museum at Gallaudet, from where she also graduated in 2011.
Other prominent figures from the deaf community agree the show doesn’t feel inclusive. Jade Bryan, an activist and founder of the #DeafTalent movement, refused to watch the show on moral grounds because of the lack of diversity behind the cameras.
A scene from Deaf U, which was released to Netflix this month. Supplied
“I have stopped watching films/TV shows produced by hearing creators if there are no deaf writers of colour on their team,” says Jade, who runs a blog about the movement she set up. “They are not the experts on telling our stories. Hire deaf writers and listen to them. They are the experts!”
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Abigail Gorman, a trustee for the Royal Association for Deaf People and a member of the Human Rights Expert Group for the World Federation of the Deaf, agrees that diversity is lacking in the displays of deafness and deaf communication on screen.
“What I liked about the series was that that there was a variety of characters with different experiences that everyone could relate to, whether it be about their childhood or deaf identity,” she says. “However, it should also be acknowledged that although sign language does plays a vital role in creating our world view, it is neither the total nor sole determinant.
A combination of “historical knowledge, learned experiences and cultural influence” form the make up of any deaf person, she says, the same as any hearing person. But she feels Deaf U fails to present the cast as rounded individuals, instead giving the impression they are defined by their disability.
Students appearing in Netflix documentary, Deaf U Supplied
“We use sign language to communicate with each other,” says Gorman, “but the deaf community are more than sign language, they have intersectional identities which should’ve been featured in the series.” Of course, deaf people are also queer, Black, brown, funny, severe, light-hearted and intense, their disability only one faction of their identities.
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What’s worse, she adds, is how the show’s approach to being inclusive is by highlighting a range of deaf and partial-hearing experiences rather than platforming actual diversity. “If there was a cast of five straight white males who had different levels of deaf and partial hearings, would that still be diverse? Of course not, but that’s the reasoning they’ve used to select their cast.”
It isn’t only people who work in deafness and accessibility who have raised concerns about the show – viewers from the deaf community also shared their thoughts about the show with HuffPost UK.
Hollie Myles, a deaf student studying film at UAL, thinks Deaf U feels elitist in its portrayal of deaf people. “What really disappointed me was the apparent gatekeeping of the deaf community by the ‘elites’ who come from generational deaf families,” she says.
A scene from Netflix's Deaf U Supplied
“They speak negatively about deaf and hard of hearing people who use speech as well as sign language and those who have hearing aids and cochlear implants. I went to mainstream school, I use hearing aids and I don’t sign and all of this reinforced my feelings of not being deaf enough to fit in with the deaf community.”
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Some traditionalists believe using sign language and hearing aids is a sign that “you’re not proud of being deaf,” Hollie says – a standpoint she feels is prevalent within the show.
David Grant, a viewer from Melbourne, Australia, thinks the show is sensational, focusing on the students’ party lifestyle rather than exploring deeper issues or showing what life at university is actually like. “How did they communicate with hearing people from the outside world? How did they study in their bedrooms and dorms?” he asks.
James Boyle, an actor based in the North East of England, appreciates the potential value of the deaf community being platformed on Netflix, but also feels the show has the wrong focus. “The deaf community itself is already a very misunderstood and oppressed minority,” he says. “This could’ve been an opportunity to educate the world about the deaf world/community in more of a diplomatic way.”
“I’d like to congratulate the cast for putting themselves out there... It cannot have been easy for them to do that.” - Abigail Gorman, trustee for the Royal Association for Deaf People
In among the slating, there are positive reviews. Emmanuel Perrodin-Njoku, a Twitter user from Washington DC, thinks the show falls short on diversity – “women of colour, DeafDisabled, and more LGBTQ members in particular” – but believes its tackles serious themes well.
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“I also appreciate and respect the cast so much for sharing their personal experiences with mental health, abortion, and traumatic events from their past – I feel like it really showed and reminded us viewers that they’re real people and not merely actors following a script,” he says.
Despite their criticisms, many detractors have praised the deaf students for taking part, saying the braveness of their involvement hasn’t gone unnoticed and will contribute to a greater understanding of deaf people.
“I’d like to congratulate the cast for putting themselves out there,” says Gorman. “It cannot have been easy for them to do that.”
“We need more deaf actors, writers, directors and talent appearing on mainstream television and films,” says James Boyle. “I have to give it to all the cast members who are a part of the show – they are incredibly brave for putting themselves out there on Deaf U.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-13--Daily UK Coronavirus Deaths Soar Past 100 For First Time Since June

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The UK has recorded 143 coronavirus deaths in a 24-hour period – the first time the number has surpassed 100 since June.
A further 17,234 people have also tested positive for the disease, taking the total number of cases since the pandemic began to 634,920.
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It is the highest daily figure reported since 164 deaths were reported on June 10, but there is often a delay in the reporting of deaths over a weekend. Here’s how to make sense of the figures.
Daily deaths remained below 20 for all of August and the first half of September, but have since been rising. On July 30, after data were revised to remove deaths that had occurred more than 28 days after diagnosis, the UK hit the milestone of recording no new deaths with the virus at all.
Dr Yvonne Doyle, Public Health England (PHE) medical director, said: “The trend in Covid-related deaths is starting to rise quickly, which is hugely concerning.
“We have seen cases increasing especially in older age groups, which is leading to more hospital admissions. This is a stark reminder for us to follow the guidelines. Importantly, do not mix with others when unwell.
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“We must all do our part to help control the virus by following the restrictions in our areas, maintaining social distance, wearing a face covering in enclosed spaces and washing our hands regularly.”
The data are broken down by UK nation, with 124 deaths being reported in England in the 24 hours to 5pm on Monday; seven each being reported in Scotland and Northern Ireland, both in the 24 hours up to 9.30am on Tuesday; and five in Wales, using the same window as England.
But the deaths themselves may have taken place well before that period and only now been reported.
Separate figures published by the UK’s statistics agencies show there have now been 58,500 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.
Hospital admissions data also show an upward trend:


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-13--Colin Farrell's Transformation In The Batman Is Still Something We Can't Quite Get Our Heads Around

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Colin Farrell caused a meltdown among film fans earlier this year, when a first-look trailer for the upcoming Batman reboot revealed he’d undergone a dramatic transformation.
But now the Irish actor has prompted a similar response after being pictured on the set of the new blockbuster.
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Colin is set to appear as Oswald Cobblepot – otherwise known as the classic comic book villain The Penguin – and has donned heavy prosthetics to transform himself into the character.
Colin Farrell during the filming of The Batman taking place in Liverpool. PA
In pictures taken as the cast and crew filmed scenes in Liverpool, Colin was wearing a wig with a receding hairline, as well as a false nose and scars on his cheek.
He was dressed in a dark suit and leather coat as Robert Pattinson and John Turturro were also spotted in character as Bruce Wayne and Carmine Falcone.
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Colin was seen wearing a visor in between scenes PA
Production on The Batman began in Glasgow earlier this year, but was halted due to the pandemic.
It resumed months later but was suspended in September after Robert – who plays the titular superhero – tested positive for coronavirus.
Filming continues in Liverpool after the prime minister launched the three-tier system of local alert levels for England on Monday, with the Liverpool city region placed in the most serious “very high” risk category from Wednesday.
Colin Farrell as we're used to seeing hi Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment
A Liverpool City Council spokeswoman told the PA news agency: “The new restrictions in Liverpool do not currently impact on filming in the city region.
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“The Film Office is working closely with every single production to ensure Covid-safe measures are in place and are being adhered to in accordance with rigorous industry protocols.”
Robert Pattinson (left) will play Batman PA
The Batman will also see Zoe Kravitz taking on the role of Catwoman, Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth and Jeffrey Wright as Gotham City’s police chief Commissioner Gordon, while Paul Dano will be playing the film’s main villain, Edward Nashton aka The Riddler.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-13--New Lockdown Measures Loom For London After Mayor Says Crackdown ‘Within Days’

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Tough new coronavirus restrictions for London have moved closer after Downing Street refused to rule out a fresh crackdown.
As mayor Sadiq Khan signalled new curbs were likely in “the next few days”, Boris Johnson’s official spokesperson said the government would “not hesitate to act” on any rise in admissions to hospitals and intensive care units.
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The capital is currently in the “tier 1” or “medium risk” category created by the government, but will soon be moved into the “tier 2” or “high risk” category that will ban separate households from mixing indoors and in pubs and restaurants, Khan suggested.
The mayor said it was “inevitable” that the shift would happen and said the “trigger point” would be when London moved past 100 Covid cases per 100,000 of population. As of Tuesday, that figure was 68.9.
The government said decisions were made about local lockdowns using more than just the infection rate.
Sam Tarry, a Labour MP in London, went further and called for a two-week “circuit break” for the whole capital that would shut pubs, restaurants and other businesses as in Scotland.
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The PM’s official spokesperson said: “There’s a process for considering whether further measures are needed in all parts of the country and I don’t think it would be appropriate for me to pre-empt that.
“We look at a wide range of different data and take advice from the Joint Biosecurity Centre and local health officials on the ground, so we look not only at infection rates but also the rate of positive tests, admissions to hospitals, and admissions to intensive care units.
“We continue to closely monitor the data in all parts of England and I think we have shown that if it’s judged additional measures are necessary we haven’t hesitated to act.”
Khan has said it is inevitable the capital will pass a “trigger point” to enter the higher tier 2 coronavirus restrictions in the “next few days”.
London is initially expected to be put on the “medium” risk level on Wednesday, meaning no new restrictions would be imposed immediately and the rule of six and the 10pm curfew would stay in place.
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But Khan told Sky News: “Across our city [...] the average over the last seven days is about 90 per 100,000.” It is in fact slightly under 70, as noted above. Khan added: “All the indicators I have – hospital admissions, ICU occupancy, the numbers of older people with cases, the prevalence of the disease, the positivity – are all going the wrong direction.
“Which means, I’m afraid, it’s inevitable over the course of the next few days London will have passed a trigger point to be in the second tier.”
Sadiq Khan in Oxford Street, London PA
The mayor insisted London should move as a whole into higher restrictions rather than borough by borough, despite variable rates of infection across the capital.
“We’re keen to go as one, as we can see the complexities and the confusion caused by some boroughs having additional restrictions and other boroughs having less,” he said.
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“Many Londoners work in one borough, live in another borough, study in another borough, go to a restaurant in another borough, so we’re really keen to go as one city.”
Groups of up to six people would still be able to meet outdoors in public spaces and private gardens if the capital were moved into tier 2.
Meanwhile, Ilford South MP Tarry has written to health secretary Matt Hancock to call for a “circuit-breaker lockdown” across London.
“Clearly this will mean that additional financial support needs to urgently be provided to all workers and businesses who will be affected,” he said.
“However, the cost of this support will be far smaller than that which will be required if infection and death rates soar and London is forced into a much longer lockdown to relieve the strain on our healthcare systems and prevent yet again suffering the worst Covid-related death toll in Europe as we saw during the first wave.”