A 🧵 documenting all the damage caused by lockdowns......
1. Trussell Trust: UK food banks report busiest month ever (Apr, 2020) Food banks report an 89% increase in need for emergency food parcels in Apr, 2020, compared to Apr, 2019
2. Trussell Trust: Winter food bank use in 2020 - projections suggest 846,000 (6 per min) parcels will need to be provided between Oct & Dec, 2020 (increase of 61%)
3. UNICEF: 150m additional children plunged into poverty due to Covid-19 (Sept, 2020) N⁰ of children without access to education, health, housing, nutrition, sanitation or water increased by 15% since start of pandemic
4. Covid-19, lockdown & alcohol-related harm (Jun, 2020) Month-on-month alcohol sales increased by 31.4% since Mar. ⅕ drinking more frequently, with 15% consuming more alcohol per session & ⅕ drinking on daily basis
5. Impact of Covid-19 epidemic on eating disorders (Nov, 2020) Covid-19 epidemic significantly impacted on eating disorders, both in terms of post-traumatic symptomatology & interference with recovery process
6. Exploring ways in which Covid-19 & lockdown affects adults with anorexia nervosa & their carers (Jul, 2020) Reduced access to services led to heightened psychological distress & physical symptoms, resulting in increased practical demands for carers
7. Effects of isolation & confinement on humans (2016) Negative effects include, but not limited to, depression, cognitive impairment, sleep disorders, sensory deprivation & impaired neuromuscular performance, hence their use as punishment
8. Social relationships & mortality risk (2010) Meta-analytic review of 148 studies found 50% increased likelihood of survival in those with stronger social relationships (consistent across age, sex, health status & cause of death)
9. The toxic effects of perceived social isolation (2014) Review of documented evidence relating to higher rates of morbidity & mortality in lonely adults, especially the elderly
10. Social ties & susceptibility to the common cold (1997) Those with more diverse social networks have greater resistance to upper respiratory illness
11. Behavioral & psychological effects of Covid-19 quarantine in patients with dementia (Sept, 2020) 59.6% reported worsening of pre-existing symptoms, with irritability, apathy, agitation & anxiety among highest
12. Mental health deterioration during lockdown (Jul, 2020) 45% report negative impact on mental health, 36% lack confidence leaving the house, 56% isolated from loved ones, 29% go at least 4 days without conversation. 120,000 with dementia live alone
13. Age UK: Millions worrying about impact of lockdown on mental health (May, 2020) 6.4m over 70s concerned about lockdown effects, with 2.9m reporting mental health affected & 3.3m report restricted access to necessities
14. Mental health before & during Covid-19 pandemic (Jul, 2020) 27.3% of participants exceeded threshold score of clinically significant level of mental health - avg score 0.48 points higher than expected trajectory
15. ONS: Coronavirus & depression in UK adults (Jun, 2020) As per NHS - adults with depression score 10+ on Public Health Questionnaire 8. ONS reports 19.2% of adults likely to be depressed (×2 Jul, 2019 - 9.7%)
16. Mental health & health behaviours before & during initial phase of Covid-19 lockdown (Sept, 2020) Psychological distress increased from 19.4% in 2017-2019 to 30.6% in Apr, 2020
17. National Autistic Society: Report into impact of coronavirus (Sept, 2020) 9/10 autistic adults worried about mental health - 85% report increase in anxiety. Also, 7× more likely to be chronically lonely & 6× more likely to have low life satisfaction
18. Impact of Covid-19 pandemic on suicide rates (Oct, 2020) Article examining impact of pandemic on factors that result in suicide & suicide rates during significant global events. Cites many articles & studies
20. Impact of Covid-19 pandemic on cancer deaths due to delays in diagnosis (Jul, 2020) Est cancer death increase - breast: 7.9-9.6% (281-344), colorectal: 15.3-16.6% (1445-1563), lung: 4.8-5.3% (1235-1372) & oesophagael: 5.8-6.0% (330-342)
21. Patients waiting more than month for urgent cancer checks (Apr, 2020) NHS Clinical Director for Cancer concerned Covid-19 pandemic could lead to 50% increase in cancer deaths over next 12 months
22. Effects of delays in 2-week-wait cancer referral pathway (Jul, 2020) Referrals decreased up to 84% during lockdown. Est backlog loss (lives/life years): 25% - 90/1662, 50% - 183/3362, 75% - 276/5075
23. Disruption & recovery of cancer from Covid-19 pandemic (Aug, 2020) 3-6 months disruption of screening, diagnosis & treatment - excess deaths between 3580-7160 & 5-year survival rates set back 8 years
24. Place & causes of acute cardiovascular mortality during Covid-19 pandemic (Sept, 2020) Post Mar, 2020 - 28, 969 acute cardiovascular deaths (5.1% Covid related) Excess of 2085 (+8%) Settings: Home (+35%), care home/hospice (+35%) & hospital (+0%)
25. Monitoring indirect impact of Covid-19 pandemic on services for cardiovascular disease (Oct, 2020) Across 9 hospitals, total admissions & emergency attendances relating to cardiovascular disease decreased by 57.9% & 52.9& respectively
26. Royal College of Surgeons: NHS waiting times (Aug, 2020) 50,000+ waiting 52+ weeks (30× higher than Feb) ½ of 3.6m on list longer than legal 18 weeks (worst breach since records began in 2007) Admissions from list: 285,819 in Feb, 41,121 in Apr
27. Donation & transplant activity in UK during Covid-19 lockdown (Aug, 2020) From Mar 23 - May 10, compared to 2019, eligible donors decreased by 68% & referral of potential donors decreased by 39%
28. Impact on waiting times for elective procedures (Apr, 2020) Prior to pandemic, approx 700,000 people admitted every month for elective procedures, inc diagnostics, transfusions & cancer treatments - majority suspended
29. Covid-19 disruption will lead to 28m surgeries cancelled worldwide (May, 2020) UK - 12 week delay: 516,000 ops cancelled, inc 36,000 cancer procedures, with each additional week leading to extra 43,300 cancellations
31. Addressing indirect effects of Covid-19 on health of children & young people (Aug, 2020) Paediatric emergency attendances down 75% during lockdown & delayed vaccinations in 68 low income countries affects 80m children
32. Decrease in paediatric A&E attendances (Apr, 2020) General hospitals: Feb, 2019 v Feb, 2020 - down 5.6% Mar, 2019 v Mar, 2020 - down 30.4% Children's hospitals: Feb, 2019 v Feb, 2020 - down 0.6% Mar, 2019 v Mar, 2020 - down 33.8%
33. Panorama investigates domestic abuse during lockdown (Aug, 2020) ⅔ subjected to increased violence, with police receiving a report of domestic abuse every 30 secs. At 1 refuge, a woman tells investigator she was raped 100+ times before escaping
34. Home Office Preparedness: Domestic abuse & risks of harm within home (Apr, 2020) Charity, 'Counting Dead Women' reports 14 women & 2 children murdered by abusers (23 Mar - 12 Apr) Highest in 11 years. Est 950,000 children affected in UK
37. Apr, 2020 - Editorial highlighting 'secondary pandemic' of child abuse & neglect, with significant risk of causing irreversible damage. Senior paediatrician quoted - "Children are perversely suffering for the benefit of adults."
38. Wider collateral damage to children in UK due to measures to protect adults (May, 2020) Article detailing harms inflicted on children, inc abuse, neglect, decline in mental health & reduction/withdrawal of protective services
39. Presentation of vulnerable children to A&E during lockdown (Nov, 2020) N⁰ of children presenting for safeguarding review via A&E down from 865 (Mar 1-May 31, 2019) to 355 (Mar 1-May 31, 2020)
40. Record numbers contact NSPCC during lockdown (Jul, 2020) From Apr-Jun, 22,000+ adults contacted NSPCC due to child welfare concerns (+32% from Jan-Mar) 8287 in May - highest monthly call volume on record
41. Non-accidental injuries in children during pandemic (Apr, 2020) Article from Edinburgh's Royal Hospital for Sick Children highlighting effects of restrictions & their correlation with known risk factors of physical abuse of children
42. Rise in incidence of abusive head injuries (AHI) during pandemic (Jul, 2020) At 1 centre, from Mar 23-Apr 23, 10 children (6 F, 4 M, aged 17 days - 14 months) treated for AHI. Since 2017, the centre has treated avg 0.67 cases per month (+1493%)
43. Impacts of Covid-19 on childhood malnutrition & nutrition-related mortality (Jul, 2020) Study estimates increase of 128,605 deaths of children under 5 in sub-Saharan Africa, due to reduction in nutrition & health services
44. Service disruptions could cause hundreds of thousands of extra deaths from HIV (May, 2020) 6 month disruption of antiretroviral therapy could result in 500,000+ deaths in sub-Saharan Africa
46. Jul, 2020 - As well as 200,00 excess deaths, Govt report finds up to 1 million years of life could be lost due to healthcare delays & impending recession
48. Heart attack deaths up by 40% after 'Stay Home' lockdown message (Aug, 2020) Govt's 'Stay Home' message may have had 'devastating' impact by deterring thousands from seeking urgent medical attention
51. Oct, 2020 - Researchers say public health measures may have 'profound & long lasting' effects on mental health & will extend beyond those affected by Covid
53. Nov, 2020 - N.Ireland Health Minister, Robin Swann - "The ethical decision is, could we turn a Covid patient away? The answer is no...sorry - your operation, your scope, your diagnosis is going to have to be put off."
55. More than 40% of population denied non-Covid related healthcare, according to poll (Nov, 2020) On a national scale, poll results indicate an estimated 22 million people have been denied access to healthcare
57. £6m borrowed for every Covid death (Nov, 2020) Economist @cjsnowdon writes that "the Govt has laid waste to the world's 5th largest economy on the basis of dubious projections from risk averse academics"
58. Dec, 2020 - Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development reports deepest economic contraction (11.2%) in 300 years & unemployment set to rise to 7.4% in 2021
59. Jul, 2020 - Restrictions have cut farmers off from markets & have isolated villagers, leaving them without food & medical supplies, in Burkina Faso. 550,000 additional children struck by wasting disease every month (6.7m in 1 year)
61. Nov, 2020 - According to official Japanese stats, there were more suicides in Oct than Covid deaths in 2020. Suicides in Oct, 2020: 2153. Covid-19 deaths in 2020: 2087
62. Coroner speaks out on 'tragic & awful' mental health impact of Covid pandemic (Dec, 2020) After delivering 7 suicide verdicts on adult men in 3 days, N.Wales coroner said n⁰ of suicides is worrying evidence of lockdown impacts
66. May, 2020 - Routine immunisation programmes have been disrupted in at least 68 countries, meaning millions of babies at risk of diseases such as polio, measles & diphtheria
67. Dec, 2020 - With all emphasis concentrated on controlling the spread of Covid & protecting the NHS, those being negatively impacted by lockdown are being ignored
68. May, 2020 - Care Quality Commission launch investigation into claims that many hospitals acted illegally by knowingly discharging infected patients
69. Jun, 2020 - National Audit Office found NHS policy to discharge without necessarily testing lasted nearly a month before being changed, resulting in 25,000 elderly patients being discharged into care homes
1. 390 members of clergy with Church of England convicted of child abuse offences & senior clergy failed to protect children, by ignoring, denying & apologising for paedophiles. Is this shocking?
2. This is is no way, shape or form isolated to the church, Anglican or Catholic.
Thousands of UK children have been systematically subjected to decades of sexual abuse:
Westminster paedophiles, including a Prime Minister, abused children at Elm Guest House & Dolphin Sq.
3. Social workers & care workers at children's homes in, but not limited to, N.Wales, Islington, Lambeth, Jersey, N.Ireland, Nottinghamshire & Manchester sexually abused children for decades. This was ignored or covered up by local politicians & councillors.