A socially distanced high street. Photo: Ellis Karran for The Lincolnite
Rewind the week 15 coronavirus lockdown updates from Lincoln and Lincolnshire.
3,343 coronavirus cases in Greater Lincolnshire (up from 3,334)
2,420 in Lincolnshire (up from 2,413)
717 in North Lincolnshire (up from 716)
204 in North East Lincolnshire (up from 203)
436 COVID-19 deaths in Greater Lincolnshire (no change)
141 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (no change)
3 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)
1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
118 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (no change)
114 in Lincolnshire care homes (no change)
52 in North Lincolnshire care homes (no change)
7 in North East Lincolnshire care homes (no change)
285,416 cases, 44,220 deaths in total
DATA SOURCE — FIGURES CORRECT AT THE TIME OF the latest update
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29th June 2020 11:21am
‘Virus hasn’t gone away’: One death and one new COVID-19 case in Lincolnshire this weekend
This weekend saw one additional reported COVID-19 related death in Lincolnshire and one further case confirmed bringing the totals to 144 deaths and 1,149 cases.
Health officials in the county warned the virus “hasn’t gone away” despite low numbers across the county recently.
Lincolnshire County Council’s director of public health pointed to Leicester potentially facing a “local lockdown”, along with spikes elsewhere in the world such as Beijing, parts of the USA and areas of India.
Leicester saw a rise of 900 cases in just two weeks. Lincolnshire has recorded 38 so far this month – just 4.2% of the city’s figure.
Mr Ward said: “Obviously, it’s a tragedy that people are still dying from COVID-19, but the numbers are low, and have certainly gone lower over the past month, so that’s great.
“But the disease hasn’t gone away, and we need to keep that message in the forefront of people’s minds, because we’ve seen spikes all over the world – in some places where they thought that got on top of it.”
One new coronavirus death in Northern Lincolnshire hospitals
There has been one new COVID-19 related death at either Grimsby or Scunthorpe hospitals, but no further fatalities in Lincolnshire on Monday.
The June 29 NHS statistics bring the total number of people to die after testing positive for coronavirus in Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals to 117.
United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust remains unchanged at 140 deaths after one additional report over the weekend, along with three at Lincolnshire Community Health Service and one at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust facilities.
North Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals has seen eight deaths in June so far, while ULHT has seen an extra six over the course of the month.
North and North East Lincolnshire has seen a combined rise of 20 confirmed cases since June 1, while Lincolnshire has seen an increase of 38.
Nationally, a further 19 people, who tested positive for the Coronavirus have died in England hospitals, bringing the total to 28,672.
29th June 2020 3:14pm
Patient visits to resume at Lincolnshire community hospitals
Family and friends will be able to see their loved ones staying in Lincolnshire’s four community hospitals when patient visiting resumes on July 1.
The Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS) is the primary community healthcare provider in the county and runs facilities in Louth, Skegness, Gainsborough and Pinchbeck.
In March, the trust made the decision to suspend visiting arrangements with immediate effect, but they will resume again from Wednesday.
All visitors will be required to book an appointment in advance by contacting the ward clerk before visiting the impatient wards.
There have been no new cases of coronavirus confirmed in Lincolnshire today.
According to government figures for Wednesday the total for the county remains at 1,149.
North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire numbers have also stayed steady at 424 and 166 respectively.
It means the total for the Greater Lincolnshire area stays the same at 1,839.
The North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire authorities have seen a combined rise of 20 confirmed cases since June 1.
Lincolnshire itself has seen an increase of 38 over the same period.
One new coronavirus-related death was reported at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals Trust today bringing the total number to 117.
United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust remained unchanged at 140 deaths.
North Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals has seen eight deaths in June so far, while ULHT has seen an extra six over the course of the month.
Nationally, a further 19 people, who tested positive for the Coronavirus have died in England hospitals, bringing the total to 28,672.
30th June 2020 3:18pm
No new coronavirus deaths in Lincolnshire on Tuesday
There have been no new coronavirus-related deaths reported at any of Greater Lincolnshire’s hospitals on June 30.
This mean that for the month of June, there were six COVID-19 deaths at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (Lincoln, Boston Grantham) and 8 at Northern Lincolnshire hospitals (Scunthorpe, Grimsby).
NHS statistics for Tuesday show figures for all hospital trusts remaining as follows:
140 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust
3 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals
1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust
117 in Northern Lincolnshire and Goole
The total number of deaths across Greater Lincolnshire remains at 332.
ULHT has not seen any additional reported deaths since Saturday’s report, however, NLAG reported an additional one yesterday taking their number up.
Nationally, a further 37 people who tested positive for the Coronavirus have died in England’s hospitals, bringing the total to 28,709.
Updated case numbers will be released later today, however, according to government figures for Monday the total for Lincolnshire remained at 1,149.
North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire numbers also stayed steady at 424 and 166 respectively.
It meant the total for the Greater Lincolnshire area stays the same at 1,839.
1st July 2020 10:54am
Lincolnshire to see “significant” increase in COVID-19 cases — from old data
Health bosses expect a “significant” jump in the number of confirmed positive cases in the next few days as data from the Lincolnshire Showground and mobile testing units is revealed.
Previously local authority’s only received pillar one data (from hospitals and healthcare testing) but government is now sending out pillar two data – community testing such as the Lincolnshire Showground and mobile testing units as well, leaving health officials in the region to sift through the new numbers.
Derek Ward, director of public health at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “We would expect a significant number of people will have tested positive in Lincolnshire through the Showground and the mobile testing units, and that data should be available to us quite soon and we’ll report it.”
He said the data was still being worked through and official numbers should be revealed in the coming days.
However, he reassured people that those in pillar two were those being tested before needing NHS care and that a “a lot of people… who are positive will isolate and will have cleared the virus themselves and not needed hospital care”.
Council leaders ask for common sense on the coast ahead of pubs reopening
Two Lincolnshire council leaders say “common sense” and “reasonable adjustments” are needed when visiting the coast, especially with many pubs and restaurants reopening this weekend.
Thousands of people flocked to Bournemouth beach last week and during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Boris Johnson said the scenes in the coastal town were “completely unacceptable”.
There are some fears that people could flock to the Lincolnshire coast this weekend, including from Leicester which was recently put back into a stricter lockdown. However, Lincolnshire Police will have more officers on duty to ensure a “sensible and safe” July 4 return.
Councillor Martin Hill and Craig Leyland, who are the respective leaders at Lincolnshire County Council and East Lindsey District Council, have issued a joint statement saying “we are a long way away from returning to normal”.
South Kesteven council calls for more power as it demands restoration of A&E
South Kesteven councillors have called for more say in the decisions around Grantham Hospital as they demanded the full restoration of accident and emergency services.
A meeting of the full council on Wednesday expressed “grave concerns” over ULHT’s temporary closure of the department in 2016, which has been turned into a Urgent Treatment Centre in June 2020 as part of the trust’s coronavirus plans.
The motion before the meeting called on council leader Kelham Cooke to write to health and scrutiny bosses with concerns, as well as calling on Health Minister Matt Hancock to reverse the changes and give local authorities “fair representation” on the “decision-making affecting health in their communities”.
During the meeting, council leader Kelham Cooke said “alarm bells” were ringing and the motion sent a “clear indication of this council’s dismay”.
“The issue goes beyond the provision of an around-the-clock urgent treatment centre.
Councils to get extra cash to cover some coronavirus losses
Greater Lincolnshire councils cash-strapped by coronavirus will be able to claim from more than £500m of new government funding pots and be compensated for some of their losses, it has been announced.
Local government secretary Robert Jenrick said the money would help “ensure councils’ financial sustainability for the future”.
In addition, authorities will be reimbursed for some of their lost income, said Mr Jenrick.
Where losses are more than 5% of a council’s planned income from sales, fees and charges, the government will cover them for 75p in every pound lost.
Further government changes will also allow tax deficits to be spread over three years rather than one.
New data shows over 80% old extra COVID-19 cases in Lincolnshire
The number of cases of coronavirus confirmed in Lincolnshire’s hospitals has increased by more than 1,400 (80%) after new testing figures were included on Wednesday.
Government figures released today show that a total of 3,328 coronavirus cases in Greater Lincolnshire including both pillar one (hospital and health care testing), and historic pillar two (fixed testing sites, mobile and home testing) data.
They are broken down as follows
2,410 in Lincolnshire (up from 1,158)
715 in North Lincolnshire (up from 524)
203 in North East Lincolnshire (up from 166)
The total increase including the data was 1,480.
Nationally there have now been 283,757 cases and 43,995 deaths.
New COVID-19 data shows infection still limited in Lincolnshire
Around 3% of historic COVID-19 tests carried out at the Lincolnshire Showground, mobile testing units and through home kits since the beginning of the pandemic have come back positive according to latest data.
The total for Greater Lincolnshire was 3,328 coronavirus cases including both pillar one (hospital and health care testing), and pillar two (fixed testing sites, mobile and home testing) data.
Lincolnshire’s director of public health Derek Ward said it was really helpful to now have much of the required data in one place – though more was still needed for a fuller picture.
He said: “It’s really important that we know how many people in hospital have coronavirus because obviously they’re generally the most sick and the most at risk people, and we’ve had that from very early doors.
“But it’s really important as well to understand how many people are isolated and then going to get a test and how many of those positive.”
Health bosses also now have data at a post-code level meaning they will soon be able to see where hotspots are flaring up across the county.
According to health chiefs in the county, 40,870 pillar two tests were carried out between April and June 30 – meaning the 1,252 confirmed cases represent 3.06% of tests carried out.
There have been no new coronavirus-related deaths reported across Greater Lincolnshire hospitals on July 2.
NHS statistics for Thursday show figures for all hospital trusts as follows:
141 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (no change)
3 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)
1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
118 in Northern Lincolnshire and Goole (no change)
The total for Greater Lincolnshire hospital deaths is now is now 263.
So far this week there have been three additional deaths involving COVID-19 reported in Lincolnshire’s hospitals, with NLAG seeing new cases on June 29 and July 2 – the latter date also saw ULHT record a new death.
Nationally, a further 38 people, who tested positive for the coronavirus have died in hospitals in England on Friday, bringing the total to 28,832.
The Office for National Statistics today also revealed the latest death toll for care homes across Lincolnshire.
There have now been 173 deaths in the sector across the three Greater Lincolnshire authorities – meaning the overall death toll across hospitals and the care sector is 436.
Updated case numbers will be released later today, however, yesterday’s release of previously unreported pillar two cases – those from testing sites such as the Lincolnshire Showground, the mobile units and home testing – the number of cases in Lincolnshire jumped to 2,410 – up from 1,158 the day before.
North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire numbers also increased to 715 and 203 respectively.
It means the total for the Greater Lincolnshire is now 3,328.
3rd July 2020 5:00pm
Lincoln bars and pubs ready for reopening weekend
Bars, pubs and restaurants in and around Lincoln are getting ready to reopen on Saturday as the country tries to gradually ease back into a kind of ‘new normal’ after more than 100 days of coronavirus lockdown.
Several venue will be doing table service only and minimal staff contact is encouraged as part of the government guidelines, while some are allowing socially distanced ordering at the bar behind protective screens.
The Lincolnite spoke to the managers at Craft and The Imp & Angel micropub about how they planned to reopen on July 4.
Four COVID-19 cases confirmed in Lincolnshire on Friday
The number of cases of coronavirus confirmed in Lincolnshire has increased by four in Friday’s figures.
Government figures released today show that a total of 3,334 coronavirus cases in Greater Lincolnshire including both pillar one (hospital and health care testing), and pillar two (fixed testing sites, mobile and home testing) data.
They are broken down as follows
2,413 in Lincolnshire (up from 2,410)
716 in North Lincolnshire (up from 715)
203 in North East Lincolnshire (no change)
It follows a massive 80% hike in numbers after historical pillar two data was included in Thursday’s numbers.
At the beginning of the week there were 1,839 cases.
Nationally there have now been 284,276 cases and 44,131 deaths.
Five stages of future local lockdowns announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced five key stages which will define local lockdowns as the country looks to move forward against coronavirus.
Mr Johnson said during a briefing on Friday that an approach around monitoring, engaging, testing, targeted restrictions and finally lockdowns had been developed.
He said the aim was to get as many people back to normal as possible.
“To achieve this we need to move away from blanket national measures to targeted local measures,” he said.
“So instead of locking down the whole country we will lock down specific premises or local areas where the virus is spreading.”
He said he would have “no hesitation” in reimposing restrictions if things began to get worse again.
He urged people to act responsibly as pubs, bars and restaurants re-opened tomorrow.
“Tomorrow is about supporting the livelihoods of business owners and their employees up and down the country – all of whom are opening their doors for the first time in more than three months,” he said.
“All these businesses and their workers have put in a heroic effort to prepare their venues for this reopening, to work out a way to trade in a way that keeps their customers safe.”
A timetable is expected next week for when many of the remaining closed businesses such as gyms, nail bars and theatres will be able to reopen.
There have been 1,643 new coronavirus cases and 83 COVID-related deaths in Greater Lincolnshire this week – compared to 1,670 cases and 71 deaths last week.
Some 304 new cases and 17 deaths were reported in Greater Lincolnshire on Friday – the third day in a row with 17 deaths.
The government’s COVID-19 dashboard recorded 252 new cases in Lincolnshire, 28 in North Lincolnshire and 24 in North East Lincolnshire.
On Friday, 14 deaths were registered in Lincolnshire, two 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 six new local hospital deaths at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust, four at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust (NLAG) and one at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals. Some 51 hospital deaths have been recorded this week, compared to 48 last week.
On Friday, national cases increased by 40,261 to 3,583,907, while deaths rose by 1,401 to 95,981.
Lincolnshire health bosses estimate that 80-90% of new coronavirus cases in the county are now a mutant, more infectious strain of COVID.
Figures earlier this week said that by January 8, 59.2% of cases had confirmed the new virus — up from 36% by the end of 2020 — and now county leaders estimate the number to be even higher.
The COVID mutation that has taken over most new cases in Lincolnshire is not only more infectious, but also more deadly, it has been revealed.
NHS bosses are hoping to offer all care homes in Lincolnshire the first COVID vaccine dose by the end of the week. This comes as almost 5.4 million people have received jabs nationally.
Director of Nursing at Lincolnshire CCG Martin Fahy told BBC Radio Lincolnshire that about three quarters has been completed so far.
A single week in December saw Lincolnshire deaths reach 13 times the yearly average, explained local health bosses frustrated with COVID deniers.
Lincolnshire County Council’s Director of Public Health Professor Derek Ward explained that the week including December 14 would usually see an average of 23 deaths, but 2020 say 301 deaths that week.
In national news, there are no plans to pay everyone in England who tests positive for COVID-19 £500 to self-isolate, No 10 has said.
The PM’s official spokesman said there was already a £500 payment available for those on low incomes who could not work from home and had to isolate.
The coronavirus R number in the UK has fallen sharply since last week, suggesting the lockdown is slowing the spread of coronavirus.
The R, which refers to the number of people that an infected person will pass COVID-19 on to, is between 0.8 and 1 across the UK, according to the figures released by the Government Office for Science and the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE).
This means for every 10 people infected with COVID-19, they will pass the virus on to between eight and 10 others.
Lincoln City has taken the top spot with the highest infection rate in Greater Lincolnshire.
This week saw South Holland at the top which was put down to two outbreaks in care homes with up to 100 cases. South Holland has now dropped to third place in the region.
Greater Lincolnshire still remains way below the national average infection rate of 472.9, with just 217.3 per 100,000 of the population.
Here’s Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rate over the last seven days up to January 22 according to the government dashboard:
Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rates from Jan 15 to Jan 22. | Data: Gov UK / Table: James Mayer for The Lincolnite
Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Friday, January 22
Greater Lincolnshire includes Lincolnshire and the unitary authorities of North and North East (Northern) Lincolnshire.
45,645 cases (up 304)
31,814 in Lincolnshire (up 252)
7,067 in North Lincolnshire (up 28)
6,764 in North East Lincolnshire (up 24)
1,760 deaths (up 17)
1,255 from Lincolnshire (up 14)
272 from North Lincolnshire (up one)
233 from North East Lincolnshire (up two)
of which 1,047 hospital deaths (up 11)
638 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (up six)
32 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (up one)
1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
376 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (up four)
3,583,907 UK cases, 95,981 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.
The COVID mutation that has taken over most new cases in Lincolnshire is not only more infectious, but may also be more deadly, it has been revealed.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said there is “some evidence” the new variant of COVID-19 which is more transmissible could have a “higher degree of mortality”.
However, he said all current evidence continued to show that vaccines remain effective.
Health bosses in Lincolnshire on Friday estimated 80-90% of new coronavirus cases were the new variant.
Boris Johnson told reporters that there were currently no plans to change lockdown rules saying “this is the right package of measures” and that it was down to people obeying the current lockdown and enforcement.
Mr Johnson was speaking during a press briefing on Friday where health bosses said 1 in 55 people now had coronavirus in England.
There are now more than 38,000 people in hospital nationally – 78% higher than the peak of the first wave.
Mr Johnson said: “We’ve been informed today that in addition to spreading more quickly, it also now appears that there is some evidence that the new variant, first identified in London and the south-east, may be associated with a higher degree of mortality.
“It’s largely the impact of this new variant that means the NHS is under such intense pressure.”
In response to questions over death spikes caused by the new variant he said: “Death numbers will continue to be high for a little while to come.”
Sir Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser, said there was already confidence the new virus spread more easily, but that it was unclear why that was.
He said there was no difference in terms of age range being affected.
Sir Vallance added the outcome for those in hospital with the new variant was the same, however, there was evidence “there’s increased risk for those who have the new variant, compared to the old virus”.
Early evidence suggests the difference shows 13-14 deaths per 1,000 infected as opposed to 10 in 1,000 for the original virus.
However, he added: “That evidence is not yet strong, it’s a series of different bits of information that come together to support that, and I want to put it into context as to what it might mean.
“But I’m stressing that these data are currently uncertain and we don’t have a very good estimate of the precise nature, or indeed, whether it is overall increase.”
He confirmed there was increasing evidence the new variant would be susceptible to the vaccines and studies of the Pfizer Biontech vaccine showed “very good neutralisation”.
“There’s increasing confidence, coupled with I think what is a very important clinical observation, which is that individuals who’ve been infected previously, and have generated antibodies, appear to be equally protected against original virus and new variant,” he added.
England’s Chief medical office Chris Whitty said there had been a “turning the corner” for the number of people catching the virus, adding it was coming down from an “exceptionally” high level.
A Lincoln couple will reopen their independent pizzeria at a new location on Friday night, with an array of main and signature pizzas and Belgian waffles.
Weirdough’s Pizza Emporium will open at Tap & Spile on Hungate from 5pm on Friday, January 22, but it initially started out as a charity project making Neo-Neapolitan pizzas.
Husband and wife team Matt and Rachel Barnes have lived in Lincoln for around five years and last year they wanted to do something to raise money for the NHS.
Matt starting to prepare a pizza. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Kneading the dough. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Matt used to work at a Lincoln school, but they were closed to most pupils for a few weeks in March, so he started working on a project and Weirdoughs Pizza Emporium was born.
It was initially run from The West End Tap from the end of last summer, but in January the pub announced it would not reopen again under its current management, so Weirdoughs had to find a new premises.
The base ready for the next stage of the pizza making. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Matt putting the pizza into the oven. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The tasty pizza in the oven. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Adding the finishing touches to the pizza. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
All profits made from the food sold – just under £2,000 – went to the NHS. The couple also did some drop offs at the coronavirus ward at Lincoln County Hospital.
Matt was made redundant at the end of May and Rachel was due to give birth four weeks after that.
It was a hectic time for the couple as Rachel, who works at a primary school in Peterborough, would be on maternity leave and Matt would soon have no income.
The Margz main pizza – San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella and basil. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The Weirdough – San Marzano tomatoes, parmesan, Emmental, mozzarella, red onions, roasted red peppers, mushrooms, spicy Nduja sausage, rocket, balsamic glaze and garlic drizzle. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
As the pizzas were working so well and following feedback from customers, the couple decided to turn it into a business.
Dan Neale, who previously ran the West End Tap, has joined the Weirdoughs team of four as a pizza chef.
Or why not try a Create Your Own Weirdoughs Waffle? | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The dough is homemade 24 hours ahead to make their special main and signature pizzas, while customers can also order a create your own Weirdoughs waffle.
The Belgian waffles come with a variety of toppings such as Kinder Bueno, Crunchie, and Galaxy Caramel, with sauces including white and milk chocolate, salted caramel and toffee, with ice cream.
Weirdoughs will open Friday to Sunday 5pm-9pm and Wednesday to Thursday 5pm-8pm for takeaway or delivery.
Pre-ordering is advised via Facebook or Instagram or by calling 07734 297 035, with the latter option preferred if it is after 4.30pm.
Owner Matt Barnes will help meet your pizza needs. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Delivery is available to the following areas: Ermine, St Giles, Monks Road, High Street, Bailgate, Boultham, West End and the city centre.
Weirdoughs will try and accommodate other areas too, but it may incur additional charges, while the takeaway will also be joining Uber Eats in the near future.
Weirdoughs will be based inside the Tap & Spile pub in Lincoln. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Once pubs are allowed to reopen again, customers at the Tap & Spile will able to order Weirdoughs food straight to their table and Matt said he can’t wait for people to able to experience it that way.
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