Lincolnshire leaders defend Cummings, but health officials fear message could be “damaged”
Lincolnshire leaders have rallied to defend the Prime Minister’s chief aide Dominic Cummings after he came under criticism for journeys he took while the Coronavirus lockdown was in effect. Public health leaders trying to keep the general public complying with safety measures, however, have admitted the latest news could make that message hard to enforce.…
Dominic Cummings, special advisor for Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves his house in London, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), London, Britain, May 24, 2020. REUTERS/Simon Dawson
Lincolnshire leaders have rallied to defend the Prime Minister’s chief aide Dominic Cummings after he came under criticism for journeys he took while the Coronavirus lockdown was in effect.
Public health leaders trying to keep the general public complying with safety measures, however, have admitted the latest news could make that message hard to enforce.
Mr Cummings held a press conference yesterday, in which he defended a 260-mile drive in March from his home to County Durham with his ill child and wife.
He said he acted reasonably and legally in going to stay on his parents’ farm and made no apology for his actions.
He also defended a later further trip to nearby Barnard Castle, saying it was to test his eyesight.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson defended Mr Cummings’ press statement in the government’s daily briefing.
Director for Public Health Derek Ward confirmed today (Tuesday) that he feared the core message had been damaged.
Mr Ward would not comment on Mr Cumming’s individual circumstances adding: “I think it’s really important what I do is reiterate the key messages for anybody who does have symptoms.
“Anyone with symptoms must stay at home for seven days, and other house members must stay home for 14 days.
“I understand that everybody responds to this particular case, and the decisions that has individual made, but the important thing is that we’ve done really, really well in the county to keep our numbers down, it seems to be flattening.”
The government has been accused of hypocrisy over its handling of Mr Cummings’ decision with some questioning why they should abide to the rules when those in power haven’t led by example.
Nationally, NHS Confederation chief executive Niall Dickson raised concerns on BBC Radio 4 about the “potential damage” to public confidence.
Meanwhile, Scottish government minister Douglas Ross announced his resignation saying he could not tell his constituents “in good faith” they were wrong to miss funerals or not visit relatives and that Mr Cummings was right.
Local health campaign group SOS Pilgrim Hospital said: “So a government advisor breaks his own rules, yet presents himself as the victim and he even deflects it back onto the public.
“Meanwhile, how many people have died without their families with them? Parents carried on without help? Forgotten.”
Lincoln MP Karl McCartney.
However, in tweets prior to Mr Cummings’ briefing, Lincoln MP Karl McCartney defended the aide.
He said he did not know“Dominic C” personally, but that he was “not the devil”.
“Just someone who has won (a lot) in the “game of politics (if you lost, get over yourself),” he said.
He said Mr Cummings had done his best and added “we are all human”.
The county’s Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jonessaid he was “shocked” by the decision of the “unelected, acting PCC of Durham” to ask for Mr Cumming’s actions to be investigated.
Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones.
“His ‘directing’ of the Chief Constable to take operational action is well outside of PCC remit. It is the first time I have encountered such politicking and I hope the last,” he said.
Others, including Lincolnshire County Councillors Richard Butroid and Colin Davie blamed a “shameful media campaign” against Mr Cummings.
“The way he has been hounded is a disgrace and it’s time to move on. The media will soon have plenty to report on concerning themselves,” said Councillor Davie.
East Lindsey District Council leader Craig Leyland also criticised the “appalling” media scrum, but said: “I certainly know that this has impacted on how people view that and how they view the government direction.
“I would say two wrongs don’t make a right, if you’re thinking of justifying a trip on the basis of what Dominic Cummings has done.
“I know people have got more sense not to do that. You’ve got to act in your best conscience.”
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City of Lincoln Council has approved a 1.9% tax hike despite a series of cuts for 2021-22 due to the financial uncertainty around the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 1.9% rise will take city council’s share of council tax for a Band D property in Lincoln to £285.39 – an increase of £5.31.
The executive committee agreed on increasing allotment charges, council house and garage rents.
Council bosses predict a budget gap of £1.75 million and said it must close the hole for financial stability.
Allotment charges will also see most tenants pay between £58.70-£78.30 per year from 2022, an increase of between 38p and 51 pence per week.
Council housing rent will increase by an average of 1.5%, while council garage rents will increase by 3%.
Attendees at City of Lincoln Council’s executive on Monday.
The authority said it faces a number of ongoing challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic and requires a substantial reduction in all of its budgets.
Cllr Ric Metcalfe, Leader of City of Lincoln Council said: “It’sareasonablymodestincreaseformostpeople,andwewill support lowincomegroups stillwiththeconcessions.”
The council has saved more than £9 million annually over the past decade, however will have to increase savings by £850,000 next year, rising to £1.75 million by 2023/24.
Due to the pandemic’s impact on government funded reliefs, empty properties and business closures, the authority estimates it will only retain £5.1 million of the £42 million of business rates generated in the city.
The draft budget will go to consultation and return before the council later this year for a final decision.
There have been 372 new coronavirus cases and nine COVID-related deaths in Greater Lincolnshire on Monday.
The government’s COVID-19 dashboard recorded 325 new cases in Lincolnshire, 30 in North Lincolnshire and 17 in North East Lincolnshire.
Some nine deaths were registered in Lincolnshire and none in North and North East Lincolnshire. These figures include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county.
NHS England reported nine new local hospital deaths at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust and one at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust on Monday. Hospital deaths have now surpassed 1,000 since the pandemic started in Greater Lincolnshire.
National cases increased by 37,535 to 3,433,494, while deaths rose by 599 to 89,860.
Leader of South Holland District Council, Cllr Lord Gary Porter, put the spike down to outbreaks in two care facilities, one being a children’s care home.
A group of urban explorers who travelled from three different counties to look around derelict buildings were caught and fined in Grantham for breaching lockdown rules. Two groups of revellers in the woods near Woodhall Spa have also been fined.
In national news, Public Health England have confirmed 4,062,501 people have received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Those in England aged 70 and over, as well as the clinically extremely vulnerable, will begin receiving offers of a coronavirus vaccine this week.
Ten hospital trusts across England consistently reported having no spare adult critical care beds in the most recent figures available.
It comes as hospital waiting times, coronavirus admissions and patients requiring intensive care are rising.
All UK travel corridors, which allow arrivals from some countries to avoid having to quarantine, have now closed until at least February 15.
Travellers arriving in the UK, whether by boat, train or plane, also have to show proof of a negative coronavirus test to be allowed entry.
Supermarkets face increased inspections from local councils to ensure they are COVID-secure amid a push from the government to clamp down further on coronavirus transmission.
Local governments have been asked by ministers to target the largest supermarkets for inspection to ensure companies are enforcing mask wearing, social distancing and limits on shopper numbers.
Here’s Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rate up to January 17 according to the government dashboard:
Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rates from Jan 11 to Jan 17. | Data: Gov UK / Table: James Mayer for The Lincolnite
Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Monday, January 18
Greater Lincolnshire includes Lincolnshire and the unitary authorities of North and North East (Northern) Lincolnshire.
44,374 cases (up 372)
30,784 in Lincolnshire (up 325)
6,927 in North Lincolnshire (up 30)
6,663 in North East Lincolnshire (up 17)
1,686 deaths (up nine)
1,196 from Lincolnshire (up nine)
268 from North Lincolnshire (no change)
222 from North East Lincolnshire (no change)
of which 1,006 hospital deaths (up 10)
612 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (up nine)
30 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)
1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
363 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (up one)
3,433,494 UK cases, 89,860 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.
Eight people were fined for two separate COVID-19 rule breaches over the weekend, after being found partying and camping near Woodhall Spa.
Officers were called to two different incidents at Ostler’s Plantation, a woodland area near Woodhall Spa on Saturday, January 16 and on Sunday, January 17.
Five people were issued with £200 fines after a report of partying at around 11.08pm on Saturday.
The next morning, police were again called to the area at 8.21am after people were seen camping at the location.
Three people were fined as a result of this, again valued at £200 due to being first time offenders.
If these fines are paid within 14 days of the offence, the cost will be cut in half to £100.
On the same weekend, but this time in a different location, six urban explorers were fined after travelling from three different counties to try and gain access to an abandoned hospital in Grantham.
The behaviour of COVID-19 rule breakers has been described as “dangerous” by Lincolnshire Police’s assistant chief constable Kerrin Wilson, who referred to them as “Covidiots”.