Lincoln passes gauged behaviour challenge

There have been 476 new coronavirus cases and 24 COVID-related deaths in Greater Lincolnshire on Thursday.

The government’s COVID-19 dashboard recorded 346 new cases in Lincolnshire, 69 in North East Lincolnshire and 61 in North Lincolnshire.

This takes the total cases since the pandemic started to over 25,000 in Greater Lincolnshire.

Some 20 deaths were registered on Thursday in Lincolnshire, with three in North East Lincolnshire and one in North Lincolnshire. These figures include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county.

NHS England reported 11 new local hospital deaths on Thursday, including nine at United Lincolnshire Hospital Trust and two at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust. Greater Lincolnshire hospital deaths have now hit 500 since the pandemic began.

On Thursday, national cases increased by 17,555 to 1,574,562 while deaths rose by 498 to 57,031.

Lincolnshire’s coronavirus cases up to November 26 (November 25 incomplete).

Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire, will be put into the toughest COVID-19 restrictions (tier 3) from December 2.

Tier 3 means the county has one of the highest infection rates in England. It allows all shops to open, but pubs and restaurants can only stay open for takeaway services, similar to the current restrictions now.

Lincolnshire leaders said they are “disappointed” and “frankly devastated” that the whole of Greater Lincolnshire will be placed into the tier 3 restrictions when it comes out of lockdown.

South Holland and South Kesteven are the only two districts that have infection rates lower than the national average of 218.4 per 100,000 of the population.

Lincolnshire’s most recent seven-day data. Data: UK Gov

Here is what you need to know about Lincolnshire’s transition to tier 3.

In national news, it has been reported that just 1% of the population (709,748) will be in tier 1, 32.2 million (57%) in tier 2 and 23.2 million (41%) in tier 3. The system will be reviewed on December 16 at the earliest.

Boris Johnson said in Thursday’s government press briefing: “The virus is still present and the faster we can drive it down, the faster we can lift restrictions.”

People in Greater Lincolnshire will have two weeks from December 2 to slow down COVID-19 infections, in the hope to go down a tier ahead of the festive period.

All of Greater Lincolnshire, including North and North East Lincolnshire, will be put into the toughest COVID restrictions (tier 3) when the current lockdown ends. Here’s what it means.

Nationally just 1% of the country is in the lowest tier, with 32.2 million people in tier two areas and 23.3 million in tier 3. London has been put into tier 2 as part of the new proposals.

Parts of Lincolnshire, including East Lindsey and Boston, have among the highest infection rates across the nation.

Political leaders in the region have expressed their disappointment, but called on residents to pull together to get Lincolnshire out of the rut.

Lincolnshire’s most recent seven-day data. | Data: GOV UK

Boston and Skegness MP Matt Warman, whose constituency covers part of East Lindsey — the district council with the highest infection rates — said there was light at the end of the tunnel.

“The tier allocations will be reviewed based on local data, and if it is safe to do so, we will be able to move to lighter restrictions,” he said.

“We will not be in tier 3 forever, but the longer we take to bear down on the virus, the longer we will spend in the highest of tiers.

“We all have a personal and collective responsibility to our friends, family and neighbours.”

Lincolnshire is on the new tier 3 lockdown.

Several leaders noted that numbers had been coming down recently already as the country moves into the fourth week of lockdown.

The leader of City of Lincoln Council Councillor Ric Metcalfe said: “I am confident that by working hard with residents and partners across the city we can continue to drive our infection rates down and aim to safely move out of tier 3 in time for Christmas.”

In making its decision the government has confirmed it looked at a series of key indicators. They are:

1. case detection rates in all age groups (currently 307)
2. case detection rates in the over 60s (281 now)
3. the rate at which cases are rising or falling
4. positivity rate (the number of positive cases detected as a percentage of tests taken)
5. pressure on the NHS (high currently)

A map of Lincolnshire showing the seven-day coronavirus rates as of November 25. | Map: GOV UK

In Monday’s decision for Lincolnshire, for instance, the government said: “There has been an overall improvement, but case rates remain high throughout the county, at 307 per 100,000 and in the over 60s it is 281 per 100,000.

“NHS pressures in Lincolnshire remain high and show signs of increasing, particularly for the units treating the more serious cases.”

For the Humber region, which covers North and North East Lincolnshire, it said: “The picture in Humber is improving with case rates now falling in 3 of the 4 lower tier local authorities.

“However, case rates in all ages and in over 60s remain very high. Positivity is 12.6%. There is ongoing pressure on the local NHS.”

All council leaders pushed the government’s key messages of hands, face and space.

There were 508 new coronavirus cases and 29 COVID-related deaths in Greater Lincolnshire on Wednesday.

Lincolnshire’s move into tier 3 lockdown means that hospitality venues must stay closed, but retail and gyms can reopen.

National coronavirus lockdown will come to an end on Wednesday, December 2, with restrictions of the tiered system coming into effect from midnight.

Lincolnshire is one of many areas in England to be moved into tier 3, which will be slightly different to the restrictions from before the second lockdown.

Retail will be allowed to reopen, as will hairdressers, gyms and places of worship.

Hospitality settings such as hotels, bars, restaurants and cafes must stay closed. They can continue to serve takeaways, click-and-collect, drive-through or delivery services, but cannot be open fully while in tier 3.

Indoor entertainment and tourist venues such as casinos, bingo halls, bowling alleys, cinemas and skating rinks must also stay shut.

As for outdoor entertainment, the likes of zoos, aquariums and theme parks, any indoor attractions within these venues must close.

Large outdoor shows such as live music or performances should not take place, unless they are drive-in events.

Organised outdoor sport can continue, but higher-risk contact activity isn’t recommended and there should be no public attendance if those sports are spectator events.

Leisure and sport facilities can also stay open, but aren’t allowed group exercise classes and should close saunas and steam rooms if they have them.

In terms of seeing people, tier 3 does not allow you to meet socially with someone you don’t live with in most outdoor settings, including private gardens.

You also must not socialise in a group of more than six people in places such as parks, beaches and heritage sites.

You are allowed to travel to venues that are open, but government guidance is to reduce the number of journeys you make unless they are essential.

As for travelling to other parts of the country, the government are advising you to avoid it where possible, but you can travel through other areas as part of a longer journey or for work, education, medical treatment and other exemptions.

There are also a long list of exemptions from the gatherings limits within all tiers, and they are:

• If you are part of a single household or someone’s support bubble
• If you work or provide voluntary charitable services, including in other people’s homes
• For childcare, education or training, so long as it is provided as part of a formal curriculum
• For supervised activities provided for children, including before and after school care, under 18s activity groups and children’s playgroups
• For formal support groups and parent and child groups of up to 15 people aged 5 or older
• To allow contact between birth parents and children in care, as well as siblings in care
• For arrangements where children do not live in the same household as both parents or guardians
• For birthing partners
• To attend a funeral, so long as no more than 30 people are present, or at a wake, so long as no more than 15 people are present
• For prospective adopting parents to meet children who may be placed with them
• To see someone who is terminally ill or on end of life care
• To attend a wedding or civil partnership, so long as no more than 15 people are present
• Providing emergency assistance
• Avoiding injury or illness, or to escape a risk of harm
• To move home
• To fulfil legal obligations (attending court or jury service)
• Providing care or assistance to someone vulnerable

A takeaway in Lincoln has been granted a five star hygiene rating after the council wrongfully gave it one star in an admin error.

Pizza Palace on Monks Road in Lincoln was visited by City of Lincoln Council health inspectors on October 1, and given one star for hygiene.

After the owner formally complained about the rating, the decision was reversed after it was revealed an “administrative error” caused the wrong rating to be published.

Pizza Palace has now been granted the maximum of five stars for its hygiene rating, and the council have apologised for the error.

Pizza Palace has now been awarded a five star hygiene rating.

It is believed the error occurred after the inspector accidentally calculated the rating using the previous inspection’s findings.

The owner was sent a letter of apology from City of Lincoln Council, and will be reinspected at a later date once the business is open and trading.

The council also stated that the error may have partly occurred due to Pizza Palace not being registered as a food business.

The Prime Minister has warned of a “New Year national lockdown” if people are too complacent, as Lincolnshire is put under the toughest of coronavirus restrictions along with most of the north of England.

All of Greater Lincolnshire, including North and North East Lincolnshire, will be put into the toughest COVID restrictions (tier 3) when the current lockdown ends. Here’s what it means.

Speaking during a press conference on Thursday evening, Mr Johnson said data was promising and suggested the rate of infection had slowed and or was reversing.

However, he said: “Those dangers have not gone away. If we ease off now, we risk losing control of this virus all over again, casting aside our hard-won gains and forcing us back into a New Year national lockdown.”

“The faster we can drive it down, the faster we can lift the restrictions – and that is what the tiers are designed to achieve,” he said.

Mr Johnson apologised to pubs and restaurants which he called the “soul of the community”.

He said they “continue to bear a disproportionate share of the burden”.

“I really wish it were otherwise, but if we’re going to keep schools open, as we must, then our options on bearing down on the disease are limited,” he said.

Lincolnshire’s most recent seven-day data. Data: UK Gov

Government advisors said a previous version of tier 1 had not been strong enough to stop growth, while tier two had “held the line”. They said tier 3 had started to “pull things down”.

Parts of Lincolnshire, including East Lindsey and Boston, have among the highest infection rates across the nation.

Political leaders in the region expressed their disappointment at the county-wide tier, but called on residents to pull together to get Lincolnshire out of the rut.

The county and its neighbours will have until December 16 to beat the government’s five key indicators, which are:

1. case detection rates in all age groups (currently 307)
2. case detection rates in the over 60s (281 now)
3. the rate at which cases are rising or falling
4. positivity rate (the number of positive cases detected as a percentage of tests taken)
5. pressure on the NHS (high currently)

Lincolnshire is on the new tier 3 lockdown.

Gainsborough MP Sir Edward Leigh also added his weight behind the call for more local restrictions and controls.

He said: “I’m very disappointed all of Lincolnshire is being included in tier 3.

“Infection spikes have been highly localised and it would make much more sense to impose tiers at the district level rather than county.

“Those unaffected should be allowed to get on with their lives and work. Infection spikes have been highly localised and it would make much more sense to impose tiers at the district level rather than county.”

A map of Lincolnshire showing the seven-day coronavirus rates as of November 25. | Map: GOV UK

South Holland District Leader Lord Gary Porter has also said it was unfair for his district to be locked down to tackle high numbers in East Lindsey.

Following Thursday’s announcement he said: “It’s disappointing the government has placed South Holland into tier 3 despite below average indicators and the fact that Peterborough has been placed in tier 2, which borders our district.

“This shows a lack of nuanced thinking from the government.

“While this is disappointing news, especially for our businesses in the pub and restaurant sectors who were relying on Christmas trade, now is the time to come together as a community and let’s get out of these restrictions as soon as we can.”