The Fair Maids of February

I wonder if the sap is stirring yet,
If wintry birds are dreaming of a mate,    
 If frozen snowdrops feel as yet the sun
And crocus fires are kindling one by one:
Sing robin, sing:
I still am sore in doubt concerning Spring

Christina Rossetti  –  from ‘ The First Spring Day’ (1830-1894)

Today I fitted the carpet in to my other fitted wardrobe and had a couple of lovely catch ups with friends.

Day 323 / Day 28 of Lockdown 3 (for my record only)
UK deaths up 406 to 106,564 (revised basis), with 18,607 new cases, 34,783 patients in hospital, 3,832 on ventilation and 2,981 new admissions. c9.3m have now received their first dose of the vaccine, with 1 in 60 adults vaccinated this weekend alone and every elderly care home resident having been offered a vaccine. The UK has ordered 40m doses of Valneva for 2022, a French vaccine which if approved will be manufactured in Scotland. Bad news today about the South African variant, as 105 cases have been identified in the UK, 11 identified in the last week have no links to international travel, potentially due to asymptomatic spread. Only 5-10% of tests are subject to genomic sequencing, so the actual number is likely to be higher. As a result, testers will go door to door to get 80,000 people tested in postcodes in Ealing (W7), Haringey (N17), Mitcham (CR4), Walsall (WS2), Broxbourne (EN10), Maidstone (ME15), Guildford (GU21) and Preston (PR9). The Health Secretary said it's 'absolutely vital that people in those areas minimise all social contact and get a test when the opportunity arises'. In Ireland, the UK variant now accounts for 69.5% of recent cases. The Isle of Man is now Covid-free and has lifted lockdown restrictions, although borders will remain closed. Fake COVID test certificates are for sale on the internet.