Seasons greetings

We'd like to wish all our readers a very happy Christmas and we hope you have a wonderful New Year. 

This is the last blog of 2020, as we will be taking a break over the Christmas holidays, but we will still be tweeting updates via @NHFTNHSLibrary

We will be back from the 4th of January with our regular health news updates.

Covid-19: Northamptonshire moves to tier 3

Covid-19: Northamptonshire moves to tier 3 Northamptonshire will move into England's tier three of coronavirus restrictions.

The county, currently in tier two, will face the higher level of restrictions from 00:01 GMT on 26 December, the government has announced.

People in tier three can form bubbles with another household on Christmas Day, but not with anyone in tier four. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Tier 3 — Very High Alert: what it means for Northamptonshire Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Northamptonshire goes into TIER THREE from one minute past midnight on Boxing Day Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Ten more Covid deaths in Northamptonshire hospitals as Health Secretary prepares tiers announcement Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• "Difficult but essential," County health chief's view on Northamptonshire's move into Tier Three Northamptonshire Telegraph
• A neighbourhood divided - the Rushden road that leads to Tier Four Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Kettering restaurant hit with Covid fine after hosting birthday party Northamptonshire Telegraph

Chart of the week: From horribilis in 2020 to mirabilis in 2021?

Chart of the week: From horribilis in 2020 to mirabilis in 2021? Each week we present analysis of data in chart form to illustrate some key issues and invite discussion. In our final chart of this year, we use Google Trends data to take a light-hearted look at what's been occupying us during 2020 – finding that the coronavirus has dominated our internet searching habits, like everything else... Nuffield Trust

Surviving COVID: The impact of the pandemic on the mental health of NHS workers

Surviving COVID: The impact of the pandemic on the mental health of NHS workers This film illustrates the impact of the pandemic on the mental wellbeing of NHS workers and highlights the importance of providing emotional support to them at this challenging time and into the future. 

Many health care staff have gone above and beyond to provide care for both COVID-19 and other patients, often placing themselves at personal risk. Some have faced extremely stressful circumstances that have had a long-term impact on their mental health. The Health Foundation

Perspectives from the front line: the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on BME communities

Perspectives from the front line: the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on BME communities This report finds that the effects of long-standing health and socio-economic inequalities and institutional racism lie behind the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on people from black and minority ethnic (BME) backgrounds. It distils the findings of a research study into the underlying factors. It is based on interviews with BME NHS leaders, clinicians, community organisations and service users, and a survey of over 100 members of the NHS Confederation’s BME Leadership Network. NHS Confederation

Government tiers review update

Government tiers review update Exponential rises in cases in the South East and East of England necessitate decisive action ahead of the formal review on 30 December.

From the beginning of 26 December, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire and most of Hampshire to be escalated to Tier 4, Cheshire and Northamptonshire escalated to Tier 3, and Cornwall and Herefordshire escalated to Tier 2. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Detailed guide: Full list of local restriction tiers by area Department of Health and Social Care
• Speech: Speech on coronavirus restriction tiers, vaccines and testing Department of Health and Social Care
• Detailed guide: The R number and growth rate in the UK Department of Health and Social Care
• Speech: Health and Social Care Secretary's statement on coronavirus (COVID-19): 23 December 2020 Department of Health and Social Care
• Transparency data: Coronavirus cases in England: 23 December 2020 Department of Health and Social Care
• Transparency data: Coronavirus cases by local authority: epidemiological data, 23 December 2020 Department of Health and Social Care
• Research and analysis: Evidence on the accuracy of lateral flow device testing Department of Health and Social Care
• £149 million to support increased care home testing Department of Health and Social Care
• Confirmed cases of COVID-19 variant from South Africa identified in UK Public Health England
• Rapid evaluation confirms lateral flow devices effective in detecting new COVID-19 variant Public Health England
• 
  

Covid-19: Six million more people to enter tier 4 on Boxing Day

Covid-19: Six million more people to enter tier 4 on Boxing Day Six million more people in the east and south east of England are to enter tier four on Boxing Day, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has announced. 

The places moving into the highest level of restrictions - which include a "stay at home" order - border the areas already in tier four.

A number of areas will also move up into tiers three and two. BBC News

See also:

• Sharp rises in infection levels in England, says ONS BBC News
• Covid: Will variant force Nightingale hospitals to open? BBC News
• The science behind virus mutations and why they matter  BBC News
• UK has two cases of variant found in South Africa BBC News
• Covid-19: UK bans travel from South Africa over variant BBC News
• Coronavirus: Fresh air 'forgotten weapon' in fight BBC News
• Moderna says it expects its coronavirus vaccine to protect against the new U.K. strain The Daily Mail
• COVID-19: First 10 days after hospital discharge are most dangerous The Daily Mail
• Staff shortages leave London's Nightingale hospital without intensive care beds The Daily Telegraph
• UK Covid-19 cases and deaths: how the UK is coping with a second wave The Daily Telegraph
• Christmas Day to be heaviest Covid day so far for England's hospitals The Guardian
• Covid tier 3 rules in England: latest restrictions explained The Guardian
• Millions more join tier 4 Covid restrictions in England from Boxing Day The Guardian
• More data needed before giving just one vaccine dose, says Covid adviser The Guardian
• Oxford vaccine set to be approved ‘just after’ Christmas, says Sage scientist The Independent
• Covid: Earlier lockdown in England could have saved more than 20,000 lives, new study says The Independent
• Test and trace reduces working hours over Christmas as England infections spike The Independent
• Scientists defend use of rapid lateral flow Covid test as government steps up UK rollout The Independent
• In focus: How coronavirus has impacted the NHS Metro

Crocodile bites and volcanic eruption injuries treated by NHS in last year

Crocodile bites and volcanic eruption injuries treated by NHS in last year Crocodile bites, snake attacks and volcanic eruptions were among the more unusual causes of injuries treated by the NHS in England over the last year.

Three victims of lightning and 490 lawnmower mishaps are also detailed in newly released data on hospital admissions from March 2019 to March 2020. The Independent