Ian Kenway @iankenway@social.cleverlibre.org

#Ceredigion has recorded zero cases for the second day in succession, and the third day from the last four.
The other top counties are Mynwy and Torfaen, both on 3.
See Lowri Williams' superb site https://portalcovidcymru.co.uk/map.html for a local breakdown.

[Screenshot of data table, credit PHW https://public.tableau.com/profile/public.health.wales.health.protection#!/vizhome/RapidCOVID-19virology-Public/Headlinesummary]

4/4

Bombshell poll shows increase in support for abolishing the monarchy. https://nation.cymru/news/bombshell-poll-shows-increase-in-support-for-abolishing-the-monarchy/

English voters with ‘devolution anxiety’ driving change in British politics, say professors. https://nation.cymru/news/english-voters-with-devolution-anxiety-driving-change-in-british-politics-say-professors/

#SteveBell on the #government’s £22bn #test-and-trace programme — #cartoon | Opinion | The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2021/mar/10/steve-bell-on-the-governments-22bn-test-and-trace-programme-cartoon

#UK #Politics #Satire #Pandemic

Today's #Covid19Cymru headlines:
Cases slightly down, deaths flat, positivity down, R closer to 1 than I am happy about.

There were 166 new cases reported today. It's great to see numbers down below 200, but this isn't quite as good as it looks; last Tuesday was 170. We can't afford to get complacent here. And although it's just 1 day, it serves as a timely warning.
7-day average: 197 - DOWN 1

1/4

As the vaccine rollout proceeds, it will have more and more room for manoeuvre, but those vaccinated so far are mainly those who would not have a significant impact on the R rate anyway. We're just getting into the ones that will be significant for R now.

There were 3 deaths reported today. That gives a weekend total of 3 (Monday and Tuesday being weekend figures, and there were no deaths reported yesterday). That is one down on the previous weekend, which recorded 4.

3/4

However, because that weekend saw the higher figure on Monday, the average goes up today.
7-day average: 8.86 - UP 0.29

#Ceredigion has zero cases for the second day in three, and the 4th in a fortnight.
Other counties of note:
2: Torfaen, Merthyr Tudful & Penfro
3: Mynwy
4: Powys
A more detailed breakdown can be seen here: https://portalcovidcymru.co.uk/map.html

[Data table image credit PHW web site https://public.tableau.com/profile/public.health.wales.health.protection#!/vizhome/RapidCOVID-19virology-Public/Headlinesummary]

4/4

'Wales is your home', First Minister tells EU nationals as settled status deadline approaches. https://nation.cymru/news/wales-is-your-home-first-minister-tells-eu-nationals-as-settled-status-deadline-approaches/

Today's #Covid19Cymru headlines:
Zero deaths, for the first time since early October. Cases and positivity second lowest. Rolling average drops under 200/day. But Monday tends to report lower figures, so whilst good news, it's not as amazing as it sounds.

Cases: 164
That's second lowest only to yesterday's 152 post-peak. But Monday is often lower, and therefore the average doesn't fall very much. But, psychologically important maybe, the average drops under 200.
7-day average: 198 - DOWN 4

1/4

🤔💭 interesting... 🧐 Hmm

AmpliPi - A Raspberry Pi-based whole house audio amplifier (Crowdfunding)

Micro Nova has put together an open-source, whole-house audio amplifier called AmpliPi based on Raspberry Pi Compute Module 3+. It is capable of streaming

https://www.cnx-software.com/2021/02/15/amplipi-raspberry-pi-based-whole-house-audio-amplifier/

Amazon reject another Welsh language book review after saying the issue was ‘resolved’. https://nation.cymru/news/amazon-reject-another-welsh-language-book-review-after-saying-the-issue-was-resolved/

Yikes!

Hackers say they gained access to live feeds of 150,000 security cameras inside hospitals, prisons, schools and companies, including a Tesla factory https://bloom.bg/3vkqoIW

Today's #Covid19Cymru headlines:
Cases down again, though there are signs that the rate of fall is slowing again. Deaths fall, with average deaths per day going under 10 for the first time since late October.

There were 195 cases recorded today. That seems like a very small week-on-week drop, with last Saturday having recorded 198. However, we're used to seeing figures from samples taken the beginning of the week coming through on Friday or Saturday.
1/5

That tends to yield more cases. So taken together, these two days show fair progress, with yesterday having been well down on the previous Friday.
7-day average: 216 - UNCHANGED

R is where the concern lies today.
R (estimate 1 - publication date data): 0.91 - UP 0.07
R (estimate 2 - sample date data): 0.87 - UNCHANGED

Whilst I think estimate 1 is probably a blip, estimate 2 came up to 0.87 yesterday and seems to be confirmed there. If it stays there, we're OK,
2/5

but it leaves the government less room for wiggle next Friday. We can speculate why this is (schools return? weather? lockdown fatigue? people taking more chances as they see numbers fall? people who've just been vaccinated thinking they're immune immediately?) but ultimately the figures can't really show the reason.

Positivity is 4.1%, which is the equal lowest post-peak; equal to last Saturday.

3/5

And the same explanation for positivity not falling applies regarding Friday/Saturday as did for cases (viz yesterday 4.4%, Friday last week 5.5%).

There were 7 deaths. This at last is showing real progress, having been plateaued for an uncomfortably long time. We're now back to October death figures.
7-day average: 9.86 - DOWN 1.29
4/5

Ceredigion has 2 cases. There are:
1: Aberaeron & Llanrhystud (their first case for a long time)
1: Beulah, Troed-yr-Aur & Llandysul

See https://portalcovidcymru.co.uk/map.html for more local detail.

For the first time I can recall for a very long time, 2 counties report zero cases: Powys and Torfaen. This is exceptional news for both these counties, whose cases have not normally been amongst the lowest. With Ceredigion, Blaenau Gwent and Penfro also report 2 cases.
[Data screenshot credit PHW web site]
5/5

Never forget how Oxford wanted to open source their vaccine but the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation stepped in and AstraZeneca got exclusive rights. https://khn.org/news/rather-than-give-away-its-covid-vaccine-oxford-makes-a-deal-with-drugmaker/