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The owner of a tea room in Lincoln says he now feels more like his old self after having an experimental COVID drug treatment earlier this month, and is looking forward to reopening his business.

Des Davis, who owns Margaret’s Tea Room in Lincoln, tested positive for coronavirus this month and the symptoms hit him “like a speeding truck” despite having had both doses of the vaccine and a booster jab. He was one of the first people in Lincolnshire to receive COVID-19 drug Sotrovimob, which he had intravenously on January 7, and he said it helped save his life.

The 54-year-old is classed as high risk and clinically vulnerable due to his previous medical history and it was a worrying time for him. Nearly two weeks later he told The Lincolnite he is “feeling fine and 98% recovered” as prepares to reopen his tea room on Thursday, January 20.

Des Davis was one of the first people in Lincolnshire to receive a new experimental COVID drug treatment.

He felt the financial impact of being forced to close his business for more than two weeks due to COVID-19, but he is now raring to go and can’t wait to welcome his guests back to the tea room.

Des, who was the only member of his staff team to test positive for coronavirus, said: “After the first couple of days I felt like I was not fighting it (coronavirus), but recovering from it. It’s only really in the last couple of days that I’ve felt good and recovered from the fatigue of it and I’m ready to reopen the business.

“I’ve had lots of messages from regular guests saying they’re looking forward to coming back. The phone has been ringing off the hook with bookings and it’s nice that people have been watching social media and seen that I’m reopening and are wanting to come back.

“Regular guests who are now my friends have sent me messages of support and I had offers from people to drop shopping off or get anything I needed. I am looking forward to seeing them again.”

Des has also tweaked the menu slightly, adding some new delights such as smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels and winter warmer desserts including Bramley apple and custard and golden syrup sponge, while the popular afternoon teas are also back.

Margaret’s Tea Room is open between 11am and 4pm Wednesday to Sunday.

A crash between two lorries and a car caused traffic delays on the A15 north of RAF Scampton on Thursday morning.

Lincolnshire Police, fire crews, and an air ambulance attended the scene of the collision at around 6.30am on January 20, but fortunately only minor injuries were reported, police said.

An eye witness, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Lincolnite that the two lorries involved were a tanker and a transporter, and everyone was out of their vehicles before emergency services arrived. The road was closed while the incident was dealt with and for recovery of the vehicles.

There is very slow traffic on the A15 southbound at Riseholme Roundabout, according to AA Traffic, who said it is “not helped by the earlier closure of the A15 at RAF Scampton.”

The crash happened on the A15 north of RAF Scampton. | Photo: Lee Morley

A spokesperson for Lincolnshire Police told said: “We were called to a collision involving two HGVs and a car on the A15 at Brigg Road, Scampton at 5.52am today (January 20).

“One of the HGVs has left the road and is in a nearby field and the road is blocked by the other HGV.”

At around 9.40am police said: “The road is closed between the Scampton roundabout and Caneby Corner, with traffic diverted onto the B1389 while the road is cleared. We would ask people to avoid the area.”

Many primary schools are dealing with COVID outbreaks despite a fall in cases across North East Lincolnshire.

The number of young people testing positive has increased since schools have returned.

However, the infection rate is now falling quickly after the wave of Omicron cases peaked around New Year.

The latest data suggests it is now at 1,400 cases per 100,000 – down a quarter from the week before – and is expected to hit 1,000 per 100,000 within days.

North East Lincolnshire Council’s epidemiology report say that the “critical pressure” on health and social care services is also easing.

They were hit by acute staff shortages in late December and early January.

Fortunately, the decline of working age people testing positive for COVID means that services are operating closer to normal levels.

There were 43 patients with COVID in Grimsby’s Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital according to the latest data on Monday, although most are not being treated specifically for the virus.

There are 52 cases in North East Lincolnshire care home residents, with 28 homes currently closed.

The council’s report says: “The highest rates have been seen in the more socially active 19-24 population where the rate peaked at over 4,000.

“Of most concern however are the big increases that have occurred in the 60-79 and over 80s since Christmas Day which has led to a growing number of hospitalisations.

“In the last week the rates in all adult age groups have fallen significantly.

“There has however been a significant rise in primary school children since the start of the school term and many such schools are managing outbreaks.”

Nearly four in five people North East Lincolnshire adults have now received both vaccine doses as well as the booster.

Numbers are lower in under 18s, who have been eligible for less time.