Lincolnshire unlikely to see second COVID-19 wave, say health bosses

A couple who had to cancel their wedding twice due to the coronavirus pandemic were finally able to officially tie the knot as restrictions eased on Monday.

Luke Hinojosa and Abi Morgan had to wait just over two years to get their official big day, which took place at the White Hart Hotel in the Bailgate on May 17.

On their big day, Luke told BBC Look North: “It’s surreal. Probably been just over two years wait, so for it to be finally here is amazing. We feel we can carry on with life now as husband and wife really and start building a future together.”

Abi added: “I am really happy, we’ve waited a long time.”

Ian Robinson, White Hart Hotel General Manager, said: “When we opened the doors this morning (Monday) it was like a kid on Christmas Day. This is what we do, this is hospitality, this is what we’ve waited for.

“We want to see people smiling, happy, getting married, eating, drinking and enjoying themselves as we used to.”

The couple previously had to cancel twice, meaning two family members that have since passed away were sadly unable to be there – Abi’s Granddad and Luke’s Grandma.

A special ceremony was held in the gardens at St Barnabas Hopsice’s Inpatient Unit in Lincoln in September 2020 to enable Luke’s Grandma Vera to watch them walk down the aisle. Vera was even able to perform the ring bearer duties from her bed.

The nurses had decorated the garden and the catering team provided provided an afternoon tea for close family.

Cases of the Indian variant in Lincolnshire remain low but health bosses say it will one day become the dominant strain like the Kent variant did.

Authority bosses are trying to temper concerns around the vaccine and reassure people it is safe, in a bid to get as many people to get the jab as possible.

On Tuesday, Sky News published a map which showed where some cases had been confirmed across the county.

The map, which uses figures from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, shows the variant in 127 local authorities – with a rolling average across May 1-8 showing 1 sample processed in West Lindsey and 0.5 in East Lindsey.

Matt Hancock said in the House of Commons on Monday that 2,323 cases had been confirmed across the UK as he opened up vaccines to ages 36-37 and over.

Assistant director of public health at Lincolnshire County Council Andy Fox said his own data did not necessarily fit with the Wellcome Sanger data due to different methodologies.

He said: “We’re aware of just a handful of cases of the variant of concern first detected in India in Lincolnshire, less than five, and in all cases that we’re aware of there’s been no further onward transmission at this point.

“I’m expecting to see more variants of concern in Lincolnshire, and eventually over time, and it will be a slower process in Lincolnshire than elsewhere in the country, this new variant will just become the strain of COVID that is circulating.

“Just as much as flu strains change over time. COVID will probably continually change and new strains will come through but the good news is that as I say the vaccine does seem to be very effective against it.”

As lockdown restrictions relaxed further on Monday, Mr Fox said he was excited, but was always going to urge caution.

“The spread of COVID in some areas in the country is a reminder that we still need to be cautious. Just because we can now do some things that we couldn’t previously doesn’t mean that we should.

“People should still, if they can, prioritise mixing outdoors rather than indoors, that people should still keep safe two metres distance.

“If they can, obviously we do want people to be able to enjoy the new freedoms, but to do so responsibly to try and focus on protecting others through that behaviour and of course, to take up the offer of the vaccine.”

He said there was “no reason not to take” the vaccine, and that it was “clear the vaccine was safe and effective”.

He was happy with how quickly the vaccine had moved through all the age groups originally expecting it to be to be just about on the over 50s at this point rather than the 36-and-overs.

He said numbers in general remain stable as national rate fluctuated with the new variant but he was not concerned about small proportion increases and wouldn’t be until there was an exponential rise.

A woman and her two brothers have opened an indoor play area for families in Gainsborough, more than a year after first buying the business, due to COVID-19.

Jane Coulson, Michael Fieldson and Matthew Fieldson first bought Play World Gainsborough in April 2020, never expecting the coronavirus pandemic to span as long as it has.

Over a year later, the brothers and sister have finally opened the doors to Play World after investing over £100,000 in the building.

Plenty of investment has gone into the refurbishment.

An entire overhaul of the building saw a better heating system installed, as well as a total redecoration and cleaning process.

The family-run company has employed nine part-time staff members so far, including two chefs as they intend to serve freshly prepared cooked meals.

Friendly reminders of social distancing can be found.

As well as this, Play World will be baking fresh cakes every day for families to enjoy while the children have fun at the play area.

Jane and her brothers all come from a farming background but admitted they couldn’t turn down the opportunity of owning what was formerly The Playhouse.

Many activities for children inside Play World.

Jane said: “We wanted to do something different to run alongside the farms.

“We heard that he business was closing down and felt that Gainsborough needed something like this for the children.

“We have plans for lots of things going forward but are just waiting to see what happens with COVID-19 over the coming months.”