UK numbers for today 12th May.
Total confirmed 226,463 with 3,403 new, total dead 32,692 with 627 new.
Todays status update is bought yo you by the UK extending the worker retention scheme for another 4 months. Of all the things that have (and have not) been done, this continues to be a tremendous move. If people don't have to worry about their livelihoods, they are much, much less likely to break the advice and requirement to stay home and isolate. Furlough 'aint no holiday but neither is not having a job.
The scheme to pay wages of workers on leave because of coronavirus has been extended to the end of October.
www.bbc.com
Today's status outlook is bought to you by President Trump reportedly walking out of a reporters conference after a nasty question. The reason why it's an outlook is after the pandemic, there will be nasty questions. A lot of them. Although some will be about china, many more will be about the domestic response. The questions to china will be valid - but so will the domestic questions.
CBS reporter Weijia Jiang asked Mr Trump why testing is a contest to him. He said she should ask China.
www.bbc.co.uk
I feel a bit sorry for Mr. Trump. He was so close to a compassionate answer but then went back to the China thing... The answer to that question (there are never really any "right" answers to questions like "why do you think", only answers that convey the right message) was probably along the lines of:
"The virus is killing in the US, but it is also killing all over the world and the global battle continues day by day, hour by hour. At a time of such unprecedented suffering and loss, It's difficult to see hope or feel positive in the face of such adversity and there are hundreds of thousands of Americans who have not even been in contact with the virus but who are in intolerable mental anguish. To be able to put our work in context and not only say we are doing all we can, but also show that we are world leaders in taking the fight to the Corona Virus, is why sometimes we compare to other countries who are also doing all they can. It is not only saying 'Have Hope', it is showing we are taking the fight to the front lines exactly where it is needed. I can't think of any other ways to put the huge amount of work our health professionals have done and are doing in such a short amount of time in context for Americans who may be suffering mentally right now, other than comparing to other countries who have been battling as long if not longer. If you know of one please speak to one of my aides."
Colorado update:
thenationalpulse.com
theintercept.com
