Fewer people died during the pandemic from non-Covid causes than normal, and this could be why
There is a curious side to the pandemic which public health experts will look into further
The coronavirus pandemic has exacted a terrible toll, but non-Covid deaths have fallen (Image: Matthew Horwood)
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Sizeable fall in non-Covid deaths during pandemic, research shows FEWER people were buried or cremated in Swansea during the pandemic year of 2020 than in four of the previous five years, according to figures from the council. The numbers have baffled a Swansea resident who had asked for them via a Freedom of Information request. The response shines a light on a curious aspect of the last 14 months – namely that non-Covid deaths have dropped noticeably. Overall the number of deaths in Wales has been higher than the previous five year-average because of the coronavirus – but the fall in non-Covid deaths has reduced what public health experts call “excess” deaths.
The village which lost its school and its post office now fears it might lose its pub
The landlord wants to change the use of the pub building to residential, saying he was losing money there long before the coronavirus pandemic, but residents have warned the village risks becoming a ghost town
Updated
The Rock and Fountain Inn, Craigcefnparc (Image: Richard Youle)
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By Chris McKeon, Local Democracy Reporter
Griffin House Care Home, Shaw Lane, Prescot. The care home is subject to a criminal investigation after the death of one of its residents in June 2020. Taken from Google Streetview, cleared for use by BBC partners. A CARE home in Prescot where police are investigating the death of a 90-year-old man has been rated “inadequate” for the second time in six months. Griffin House, in Shaw Lane, received an “inadequate” rating from health and care watchdog the Care Quality Commission (CQC) after an inspection in October 2020 uncovered multiple failings in safety and leadership. Inspectors had been called in after the death of a 90-year-old man at the care home in June 2020, which is still under investigation by Merseyside Police. No arrests have been made.
A study of court reporting in the UK has concluded public funding should be considered to safeguard the ability of local newspapers to be the eyes and ears of the public.
After interviewing 22 journalists from across the UK about their court coverage, Richard Jones of the University of Huddersfield warned any reduction on the current provision would have a “huge impact on open justice”.
His paper, published in the academic journal Journalism Practice, concluded that some form of public subsidy for court reporting, whether under an expanded BBC-funded Local Democracy Reporter Service or another scheme, would be “welcome”.
Jones acknowledged that most journalists who regularly cover courts are from the biggest local news groups, which include Reach, Newsquest, Archant and JPI Media.