31st May 2020

The coronavirus death toll in the UK rose by 113 on Sunday, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths to 38,489. In Italy, deaths increased by 75 on Sunday, compared to 111 the previous day. Since the outbreak was first identified on 21st February, Italy’s total death toll now stands at 33,415, the third highest in the world after the United States and Britain.

Protests against police brutality following the death of George Floyd have drawn large crowds in dozens of major cities across the United States, as well as in London and Berlin. Many fear that such mass gatherings could trigger a new spike in coronavirus cases.

Ironically, protesting the wrongful death of one man by illegally congregating in large numbers is likely to result in further deaths in the coming weeks. Would those deaths be considered unlawful, and who would bear responsibility?

This morning at 8 a.m., Sarah and Lee drove to the hospital. Before being admitted to the maternity ward, Sarah had to take a COVID-19 test and was isolated in a private room until the results were available. Lee stayed with her while she was moved to the COVID ward.

At present, she is hooked up to a machine monitoring the baby’s heartbeat and her contractions, but the test results have not yet come back. There is only one other patient in the unit, and Sarah is getting rather bored, or so she says. She will transfer to the delivery suite once the results are in, unless the baby has other plans.

Here in Harborough, it was another dry, fine day. Mia and I started at the crack of dawn, watering every plant and tree I had, before heading to the park for a play with the ‘squeaky ball’. She loves fetching it, making it squeal all the way back to me.

The Rothwells have borrowed the canoe and enjoyed a gorgeous day on the water.