Updated 1000 BST ( 0900z GMT/UT/GPS Time ) Tuesday 18th August 2020 UK time

From Robin Lovelock: Scroll past the amusing pictures to "the more serious stuff" later, then the good result achieved in UK on 14th April 2020. Then to the contributions arriving from other countries, as "One-Liners", with links.

This "covid19" page started with pictures from friends, such as Enrico in Sicily, on our Holiday page. See Enrico and his family in five minute video on the right*. See the Queen and UK Government singing :-)

Many of us will know that humour can help to ease pain.

As the weeks, months, and maybe years, go by, it may help us put covid19 into perspective. Some of us remember at least one war.

Lessons may be learned, from covid19, to prepare for the inevitable Global Warming, by maybe 2040.

Understand the important information below from James Lovelock: few still understand what his book "The Revenge of Gaia" said, years ago, on my Grumpy page.

But the pictures and videos on this "covid19" page should also bring a smile to your faces. We start with this picture from Enrico in Sicily, sent on 18th March 2020 :-)

.

For those of you using a translation flag, it says, "with every problem there's a solution." :-)

Caught on our CCTV: the fox, eating peanuts left out for him. What has he seen ? The webcam and warning sign near the window ? :-)

From Robin's 2019 Christmas Newsletter : June's violent reaction to her Christmas present from Robin: Saucy underwear. Robin is holding the sauce :-)

Robin, June, and Samantha on their CCTV, in "Covid19 Lockdown". Samantha is working from home, for a company doing media monitoring Worldwide. 21 years now :-)

The more serious stuff ...

From Robin Lovelock: Many of you can skip down to the bottom of this page, unless you are into collecting, processing, and publishing, the requested detailed data, for the UK or other countries. See the UK BBC TV broadcast, then information starting to be published by my wise overseas friends.

I hope that someone will provide the spreadsheet data and graph, to replace that on the right - just for illustration of what I'm after. Click on my sketch to enlarge. The direct and indirect effects of covid19 should be pretty obvious to anyone comparing the graph for 2020, as it developes, with at least for that for 2019. Mistakes will be made in knowing what individual death is related to covid19, but all deaths are recorded, regardless of where it happens, and the cause.

I'm seeking spreadsheet data for a known area, such as England, with 365 columns - one for each day of the year; at least two rows: that for 2019, and that for 2020 - which can be updated from the same source - probably the UK National Office of Statistics, on www.ons.gov.uk . Please note that I am NOT seeking attempts to try and identify covid19 deaths: anyone, comparing graphs for 2020 with earlier years, should be easily able to draw the right conclusion. Increased deaths might be direct, such as infection of vulnerable people, or less direct, such as suicide or murder: sadly, we can expect these to increase.

I understand that, in the UK, about 500,000 people die every year - an average of about 1300 each day. I suspect that, with the required data and graph, my illustration above will be seen to be over optimistic. i.e. the 2020 plot for total deaths may already be well above that for 2019 and earlier years.

Note added on Easter Monday 13 April 2020 by Robin: Thank you, my many friends, looking into a similar approach for your country, and letting me know how things are. Some of you can compare the graphs with events like earthquakes, floods, fires, famines caused by lack of rain, war ceasefires, etc.

To finish on a lighter note: check out my short videos on the right. The new 2010 Holiday one MAY work. Stay Safe, and don't get too bored :-)

Progress by 13th April 2020 with spreadsheet data for UK

See the useful ONS page with Graph and data here . Are you into spreadsheets ? The picture on the right is from my PC screen, using Microsoft Excel to view the downloaded data from the UK Office of National Statistics (ONS) site here . Click on the picture if you want to read the detail. I renamed their .XLSX document, downloaded on Easter Monday 13 April 2020 as cvoncd~1.xls on this web site. Rename it to end ".XLSX". But I'll happily look at the graph they made :-)

UK Government adopts monitoring of total deaths on 14th April 2020

Tuesday 14 April 2020: Nick Stripe of UK ONS appears on BBC TV News. He said that there were 16,387 deaths registered in England and Wales during the week ending April 3, which "is the highest weekly total" since the authority started compiling data in 2005. From Robin's sister, Sally : "It's saying 60% increase in weekly death toll... Extra 6000 deaths only 3.5k reported as corona... So 2.5k extra need to know..... ". This was the main lead on the UK BBC TV 6pm and ITV 6:30pm TV News broadcasts. You can play the 2 minute video, giving extracts from the 10pm BBC TV News, on the right.

Thursday 16th April 2020 from Robin Lovelock: Good to see the UK Government adopt this approach of monitoring total deaths, even if the graph is only for England and Wales, and compared to the average for previous 5 years. The latest graph can be reached from here .

Some other countries, not already monitoring total deaths, may find it useful, but graphs of individual years may be needed, to compare with deaths affected by things like natural disasters, famine, war ceasefires, etc.

From Robin: to the family of Dame Vera Lynn, who has passed away, aged 103. BBC News on 18th June 2020 . I hope the video above causes a smile rather than hurt.

From Robin Lovelock on Saturday 18th April 2020 ...

For decades I have worked by putting the right people in contact with each other. They are often old friends, like those listed below, or "friends of friends". Click on the picture on right, for memories of our time in Holland, in the 1970s. Soon after Samantha's birth, I had to give a briefing to "top brass" in NATO :-)

I see the recent UK News includes talk of things like making the UK public wear face masks, in addition to the obvious problems of getting protective clothing to the important front line staff, in hospitals, care homes, emergency services, transport, etc. We can learn a lot from other countries, who decentralise decision making and action, down to individual hospitals, or even wards, where doctors or nurses are more expert than anyone in knowing what is needed, and can order it, or arrange a courier, if it is already stockpiled, or available from elsewhere - including China.

Recent TV News, including talk of the recession after the first World War, WWI ( 1914-1918 ), or veterans on WWII ( 1939-1945), reminds me of "old soldiers", including in my family. e.g. my grandfather, Harold Sharp, who was wounded on the Somme, and remembered walking back through the confused lines, helped by German wounded: also the Christmas ceasefire football match. More recently, I spent a lot of time with my Father-in-Law, Jack Ponsford , who spent most of WWII in Stalag 8b POW Camp in Poland. Some of this is on my "Bigger Picture" page, linked from my Home page. My Uncle Bernie Sharp, in Sandhurst, has memories of his dad, Harold, and of WWII, and is near the top of my Family page. He remembers, as did my mother, their living under canvas during the recession, before a local doctor loaned Harold money, to buy land and build a shack.

Recently, both Uncle Bernie and Auntie Ruby, were admitted to Frimley Park (Military) Hospital and sadly, my Auntie Ruby passed away. Bernie returned home. I visited him and his sons before the UK lockdown, and like a typical old soldier, he still has a sense of humour. Click on Bernie to play the video, recorded on Christmas Eve 2016 :-)
Click on Bert Davies, on the far right, to read his War Memories of Italy. Bert, with wife Ada and son Alan, lived in the same road in Wokingham, from when I was six.

Global Warming, James Lovelock, and COVID19

From Robin Lovelock: There is more in the piece about Global Warming and James Lovelock on my Grumpy page. Jim had his 100th Birthday last year. Click on his picture for the Wiki article.

Few people still understand what Jim and that page have been saying for years.

"We can't stop Global Warming. but we may delay it by a few decades, to give us time to prepare for it's effects: vast areas of the World, including as close as continental Europe, becoming arid desert; shrinking of habitable areas of the planet to much smaller parts of the planet, closer to the Poles. The Earth will then only be able to support a small fraction of it's present population, and there will be the need for massive migration. Places like the UK will remain temporate a little longer, so will be an attractive destination. We need all World Governments to cooperate, to prepare for this inevitability; also to agree things like reduced use of fossile fuels, to give us a few more decades to prepare."

Click or tap here for the Guardian Newspaper article.
I love the quote, “Enjoy life while you can. Because if you’re lucky, it’s going to be 20 years before it hits the fan.": We all know what "it" is :-)

From Robin on Monday 27th July 2020: Jim's 101st birthday was yesterday. See the Guardian article published just before here . Great stuff :-)
Play the video below, on the left, for the BBC TV News on his 100th Birthday in 2019. On the right in 2020: ... on coronavirus and turning 101.

Read the Grumpy page, to see the full piece, and in context. e.g. articles about the UK NHS and migrants. Maybe, with the experience of covid19, many nations will collaborate. Our short youtube video, above, to the right shows Robin, June, and Samantha, on "covid19 lockdown" in Sunninghill, promoting three books of Jim, including "the revenge of Gaia". Click on the important Grumpy Old Man on the right to know more about him. Today seemed a good day to mention him here, publicly. Of course, he could be a topic of discussion on my Google Group below ;-)

Remember videos will only play from my English pages.

27 April 2020: BBC Article Coronavirus recovery plan 'must tackle climate change' . Environment ministers from 30 countries are meeting in a two-day online conference.
By Roger Harrabin. See www.bmu.de/en/ . There is a video feed, including the 50 minutes starting at 3:10 CET = 1510 CET = 1410 BST in UK = 1310z GMT.
Click or touch the pictures below to enlarge. e.g. the Conference Agenda. See Videos . At least some are making a connection between covid19 and global warming !

"One-Liners" from some of Robin's friends in many countries ...

from Robin: Many Thanks to those who have contributed these "one-liners". There can often be useful information from a link to a web page, video, or TV station.
Compare different search engines. e.g. Search "world news" on Google , Bing or Yahoo . Best not criticise your Governments here. Do they sing as well as ours ? :-)

from Kurt in Denmark: "... commercial TV broadcast station which releases ... info daily nyheder.tv2.dk " Kurt is a Radio HAM . See Snoopy the Viking :-)
from Mick near Melbourne, Australia: "... if that is sort of what you are after.. updated very regularly. www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/ ". See MicroMite :-)
from Louden in New Zealand: " ... NZ Statistics hold a lot of data ... www.stats.govt.nz . There is a specific Covid-19 page covid19.govt.nz ". See EASAMS .
from Jacques in Mauritius: "... I update daily ... graphs from data of www.besafemoris.mu see link ... www.wp.maufox.net/covid-19-mauritius/ See 2019 Newsletter :-)
from Jose in Portugal: "... The data I check everyday is here: www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/ ". See old GPS Software in Hot Air Balloons and "The Icicle" :-)
from Ted on west coast of USA: "... For what's going on in my little town of about 61,000 look here: castrovalleyforum.com/ ". See Berkley Labs and Pidgeon here :-)
from Andy in Poland: "Sure Robin ... (Polish website) Andy www.qsl.net/sp9hzx " - Andy is a Radio Ham, early GPSS user, and suggested we Holiday in Sicily :-)
from Jhins in China: " .... ( CGTN ? conversation in progress with Jhins & Icey ) ..." . See Concox products from Shenzhen on AVL page, and e-cigs on ave40.com .
from Shams in Slough, UK: "... we are all okay ... Local News ". Business Partner in Malaysia. Came to UK with family in 2002. See "Je Suis Charlie" on Grumpy .
from Hector in Miami, FL, USA: "... ( conversation in progress ) ... LINKEDIN ". Used GPSS in Ecuador.
from Robby in Port of Spain, Trinidad: " ... collaboration with the local University of The West Indies and our Ministry of Health... DASHBOARD " - early GPSS .
from Alek in St Petersburg, Russia: "Hi Robin. I am all Ok too.... worldometers.info/coronavirus/ ...". See Sailing Saucer linked from near top of Snoopy :-)
from Sally near Northampton, UK: "( ... passionate about Global Warming ...)". See Family , Campion , Michaels Memories , NHSCare.info - my sister is an expert !
from Vatan in Holland: "... Sociologist researcher found James Lovelock on Grumpy page ". Vatan asked to be put in contact with James. James will decide :-)
from Adam in London,UK: "... Dear Lovelock ... Adam Afriyie, MP ... Twitter ... Hansard ... " - Wiki , Grumpy , NHSCare.info - Well Done Adam :-)
from John in Ascot,UK: "... B.Sc Biochemistry, School Teacher, Driving Instructor + Robot Wars , Team-Joker , LINK ... " - L-Driver , Snoopy + Lateral Thinker :-)
from Deepak in Delhi, India: "... Indian channel that I watch most is NDTV Most information through ... Youtube and the BBC ...". See Linkedin . GPSS in 1999 :-)
from Dave in Vietnam: "... You can add me as 'SaigonDave' ... vietnamnews.vn link ... (conversation in progress) ...". Dave used GPSS in Vietnam in 2004.
from Carlos in Peru: "... my website www.ingdrone.com ... I work with ( drones ) ... measure people per square meter, to avoid crowds " . Carlos used GPSS in Peru.
from Flavio in Reggio Emilia, Italy: " ... (conversation in progress) ... RAI TV ... CF3000 Automotive Electronics ... ". Pioneer; used GPSS ; see Flavio in 1999: Holiday :-)
from Enrico in Sicily: "ok, add ... Enrico Mirabella ... visit our web site www.ricciolimirabella.it ...". Used GPSS and GPSSppc years ago. See Sicily on Holiday :-)
from Usman in Lagos, Nigeria: "... ( conversation in progress ) ... gets news from channelstv.com ...". Used GPSS from 2002 in Nigeria.
from Eric in Accra, Ghana: "... co-produced 12 min documentary ... See also Covid Stigma in Ghana and my Twitter ....". friend of a friend at City University :-)
from Dario in Ljubljana, Slovenia: "... ( conversation in progress ) ...". Search "slovenia news" on Google or Bing or Yahoo ? Used GPSS on 4x4 in Sahara years ago.
from Gordon near Johannesburg, South Africa: "... Covid-19 trends ... Al Jazera ... Local news and also Radio Station 702 ...". Used GPSS in the air in 2000 :-)
from Roberto near Valparaiso, Chile: "... I do not watch TV. Nor do I especially follow a web page, I just browse". Google or Bing ? Used GPSS for Business in 2000.
from Jose Luis from Monterrey, México: "... recommend this site for COVID info: mexicanist.com/covid-19/ ..." . He is a Radio HAM and used GPSS from 2007.
from Andy near Buenos Aires, Argentina: ".... ( conversation in progress )... most important news channel ... on TV and Internet is here ...". Used GPSS from 2000.
from Pablo in Buenos Aires, Argentina: ".... daily official government figures on COVID19 here ... Buenos Aires City web about it: here ....". Used GPSS from 1997.
from David in Tel Aviv, Israel: ".... I am well ...". Israel News on Google & Bing . Radio and TV on IPBC . Was a Radio Ham & used GPSS for RDF in Business .
from Bob in Falkland Islands: "... (conversation in Progress)...". Penguin News ? Is a Radio Ham & used GPSS before we met at the 1997 London Motor Show :-)
from Mahmud Riyad in Gazipur, Bangladesh: "... news from BBC, BBC Bangla , Channel-i ... Facebook ..." - was in RajVooj in Sunninghill. Mr Kahn his uncle :-)
from Rudi in Sydney, Australia: "Not sure if this qualifies as a one-liner but I certainly found it helpful! article/12270670 " Rudi "family" since 1991 . See Puppy dog :-)
from Ron in Oxford, UK: "... my wife and I are both very keen wildlife photographers: ... www.ronperkinswildlifephotography.co.uk ". See Red Kites from 2005 :-)
from Robin in Sunninghill,UK: Home & COVID19 page. Freeview TV: Al Jazera , BBC , ITV , Sky , RT . BBC Radio 4 . My Grumpy Friends, overseas or near :-)

For those interested in Robin's Google Group, ROBINLOVELOCKSFRIENDS, the introduction is now Here .

Who has visited this page ?

From Robin: It's very convenient for me, that there are so few visitors to this page: just those given the link. See map and words near end of my Home page ;-)

The visit counters may give a rough indication on who else is visiting, or has visited, this page. I don't hide or disguise my visits, but they may appear as "Ascot", or miles away, like "Bracknell, England" (on my Study PC), or "Southend-on-Sea, England" ( on the Lounge PC). Positions may not be accurate, but times are. These may change at any time, without control by me. So, you may see if I'm "working" in the Study, or "playing" in Lounge :-)

Not all visits are seen, and some browsers hide location, but you may find Revolvermaps livestats for COVID19 page interesting.

The video on the right shows several guys visiting at the same time, after I posted the link on the Microtransat forum :-)

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