Martin Hill: Standing up for health

People should avoid travelling into or out of South Yorkshire unless absolutely necessary as new lockdown measures come into play for the region.

Lincolnshire’s neighbours including Sheffield, Doncaster, Barnsley and Rotherham will be put into tier three restrictions from Saturday, October 24.

The move means stricter measures which could affect Lincolnshire residents crossing the county border for work or other reasons.

One of the new rules says people should “try to avoid travelling outside the very high alert level or entering a very high alert level area, other than for work, education or for caring responsibilities or to travel through as part of a longer journey”.

The government also says South Yorkshire residents should avoid staying overnight in other parts of the UK, and others should avoid staying overnight in area as well.

So, if you were planning a jaunt to Meadowhall Shopping Centre it might be wise to reconsider, similarly, if you live in Doncaster but were hoping for a coastal break in Skegness, you might want to put that bucket and spade away.

Other measures include:

• People being told they must not socialise with anybody they do not live with, or have formed a support bubble with, in any indoor setting or in any private garden or at most outdoor hospitality venues and ticketed events
• People must not socialise in a group of more than six in an outdoor public space such as a park or beach, the countryside, a public garden or a sports venue
• All pubs and bars must close, unless they are serving substantial meals
• Additional closures including betting shops, adult gaming centres, casinos and soft play centres.
• Gym classes will not be allowed and social distancing guidelines should be followed between people from different households (but gyms will remain open).

The restrictions for tier 3 – very high – lockdown.

The latest moves follows a rapid rise in the rate of COVID-19 infections across the UK.

The infection rate in England stood at 169 people per 100,000 from 9 October to 15 October, up from 100 for the week of September 25 to October 1.

Elsewhere, Nottinghamshire is reportedly in discussions about tier 3 restrictions too, along with West Yorkshire, the North East and Teesside.

In South Yorkshire rates are among the highest in the country and continuing to rise rapidly, with case rates ranging from 285 people per 100,000 in Doncaster up to 402 people per 100,000 in Sheffield.

Government slides showing the change of rates and infection levels across England between October 12 and October 20.

Announcing the new measures, health secretary Matt Hancock said: “I’m very grateful to the local leadership in South Yorkshire who have worked together closely, cross party, on the need for additional measures to protect lives and livelihoods. A failure to act now would only lead to tougher and longer lasting restrictions later.

“I understand the sacrifice people in South Yorkshire have already made and the enormous impact further measures will have on people’s lives. That is why we are also providing support to businesses and contact tracing activity across South Yorkshire.

“Now is the time for us all to work together to get this virus under control.”

Lincolnshire is tier 1 – medium – lockdown.

The number of Greater Lincolnshire coronavirus cases has passed the 8,000 mark after 367 were confirmed on Wednesday — the highest daily number yet — including 26,688 nationally.

The latest UK coronavirus dashboard figures showed 196 cases in Lincolnshire, 56 in North Lincolnshire and 115 in North East Lincolnshire.

It means means there have been 3,716 cases for the month of October.

NHS figures reported no further deaths in the region’s hospitals on Wednesday.

There were no deaths either in the government’s own death tally, which includes those both in and out of hospitals and those of residents in hospitals outside the county.

However, it appears some corrections over where the deceased lived took place, as Lincolnshire decreased by one and North Lincolnshire increased by one.

Nationally, cases increased by 26,688 to 789,229, while deaths jumped by 191 to 44,158.

Lincolnshire’s cases up to October 21. | Image: Public Health England and NHSX

Lincolnshire is currently still on the medium (tier 1) level for the the new three-tier lockdown system of COVID-19 risk, which means it has no extra restrictions on top of the nation-wide ones.

However, Lincolnshire’s neighbour South Yorkshire will be going into the toughest tier of coronavirus lockdown from Saturday.

People have been told they should avoid travelling into or out of South Yorkshire unless absolutely necessary as new lockdown measures come into play for the region.

North East Lincolnshire Council has said it had by far the biggest week on week increase in COVID-19 cases.

A further three schools in Lincolnshire have positive cases of coronavirus on Wednesday, totalling over 100 now.

Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire for Wednesday, October 21

8,308 cases (up 367)

• 5,419 in Lincolnshire (up 196)
• 1,718 in North Lincolnshire (up 56)
• 1,171 in North East Lincolnshire (up 115)

428 deaths (no change)

• 294 from Lincolnshire (down one)
• 92 from North Lincolnshire (up one)
• 42 from North East Lincolnshire (up one)

of which 287 hospital deaths (no change)

• 153 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (no change)
• 6 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)
• 1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
• 127 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (no change)

762,542 UK cases, 43,967 deaths

DATA SOURCE — FIGURES CORRECT AT THE TIME OF the latest update. postcode data includes deaths not in healthcare facilities or in hospitals outside authority boundaries.

Three more men have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder as police continue their investigation into the Scunthorpe shooting incident.

Drugs and cash were seized, and a quad bike was recovered, as a number of addresses were searched as police followed up a number of lines of enquiry to establish the circumstances of the incident on Dale Street on Monday night.

Two men were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder earlier in the week and police said they believe it was a targeted attack.

Three men, aged 19, 28 and 42, were arrested overnight on suspicion of attempted murder.

All five men arrested in connection with the investigation remain in custody whilst police enquiries continue.

A 26-year-old man was treated by paramedics at the scene and remains in hospital in a serious, but stable condition.

Police have a mobile static engagement vehicle on Dale Street for anyone wishing to speak to them.

The force’s Humber Talking teams have also been knocking on doors in the area and asking residents how they are.

The extra police presence and ongoing visibility will continue for the foreseeable future.

Anyone with information that could assist with the investigation should speak to an officer or call 101 quoting log number 713 of October 19.

Alternatively, it can be reported through the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Police and armed officers attended the scene.

DCI Phil Gadd said: “Our investigations into the circumstances of this incident are continuing, with teams working hard to establish exactly what happened that night.

“Thankfully incidents of this nature are incredibly rare in our area and I want to reiterate that we do believe this to be a targeted attack, with no wider risk to the public.

“In spite of that, I can fully appreciate the impact that this incident will have had on the local community and the wider Scunthorpe area.

“We continue to have a lot of officers in the area, carrying out enquiries and to offer an ongoing reassuring presence.”

A string of motorcycle and scooter thefts in the West Lindsey area could be linked, according to Lincolnshire Police.

Two scooters and two motorcycles were stolen in the Lincolnshire district between Sunday, October 18 and Tuesday, October 20.

At 8am on Sunday, a Piaggio Liberty scooter was stolen outside the Ferndale Care Home in Gainsborough, which has since been found and returned to its owner.

On Monday, two people in Queensway, Sturton-by-Stow reported their vehicles had been taken overnight, a Neco Alex One scooter, and a blue Lexmoto motorbike.

On Tuesday, a resident in Hawthorne Avenue in Scotter told officers that their silver Yamaha Phaser had also been stolen.

Officers are investigating the thefts and believe the incidents to be linked, launching an appeal for anyone who has seen suspicious activity.

If you can help police with the investigation, call 101 and quote incident 195 of October 20.

As well as this, police in Grantham are looking into the theft of two motorbikes on Sandcliffe Road between 10pm on October 18 and 8.50am the next day.

The two bikes, a grey Yamaha with registration FY10 MXD, and a white Generic motorbike with registration FX65 CUU and a modified exhaust, were stolen from a driveway.

If you can assist officers with these Grantham incidents, call 101 and quote incident 64 of October 19.