No weekend COVID-19 deaths, but small rise in cases “inevitable”

There have been new 860 new cases of coronavirus confirmed in Greater Lincolnshire on Wednesday, as a fifth vaccine seeks approval in the UK.

The Greater Lincolnshire case figure is almost 10.88% down on the record-breaking 965 cases last Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Novavax has submitted data for its phase three trial to the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

The latest COVID stats for Lincolnshire are:

• 860 new cases of coronavirus in Greater Lincolnshire with 638 in Lincolnshire, 123 in North East Lincolnshire and 99 in North Lincolnshire
• The latest figures saw Lincolnshire pass the 90,000 case mark
• Four further deaths were recorded in the government figures including three Lincolnshire and one North East Lincolnshire resident
• No further deaths were recorded in Greater Lincolnshire Hospitals
• Nationally cases increased by 43,941 while deaths rose by 207

The UK has already ordered 60 million doses of Novavax and bosses said the latest submission brings it “significantly closer” to delivery.

Stanley Erck, the company’s president and chief executive, said it would be the “first protein-based COVID-19 vaccine, built on a proven, well-understood vaccine platform that demonstrated high efficacy against multiple strains of the coronavirus”.

“We look forward to MHRA’s review and will be prepared to deliver vaccine doses following what we anticipate will be a positive decision,” he said.

“We thank the clinical trial participants and trial sites in the United Kingdom, as well as the UK Vaccines Taskforce, for their support and vital contributions to this programme.”

A heatmap of COVID cases by age since the start of the pandemic. | Image: Gov.UK

Elsewhere, the latest data from the Office for National Statistics has shown around nine in 10 UK adults have COVID-19 antibodies, but that positivity rates in the 60-64-year-old age range were falling by 10%.

More than a million people in the Midlands have now had their COVID-19 top-up jab, the NHS said.

The region is the first to hit the milestone after the NHS kicked off the booster programme on September 16.

Nearly 16 million vaccines have already been delivered in the Midlands since the NHS in England made history when Margaret Keenan received the first jab outside of a clinical trial in Coventry in December 2020.

Alison Tonge, the NHS England and NHS Improvement director responsible for overseeing the vaccination programme across the Midlands, said: “It is fantastic to see the public step up to do all they can to keep building our wall of defence against COVID-19 with over a million already coming forward for their top-up vaccine.

“There are still a further one million people eligible for the booster vaccine who have yet to have their jab, so I would urge them to get protected as soon as possible.”

In Lincolnshire, 74,000 booster shots have been given to eligible people.

The county’s NHS is offering children aged 12-15 the opportunity to get their COVID vaccination at a series of ‘pop-up’ sessions at the county’s two mass vaccination centres during half-term.

Around 30% of that age range have been vaccinated so far.

Rebecca Neno, Director of Covid and Influenza Vaccination Programmes, NHS Lincolnshire CCG, said: “Our teams vaccinating 12-15s in schools have been exceptionally busy over the last few weeks and are doing an amazing job, helped by the support and cooperation of our school colleagues.

“We want to offer those who’ve missed their COVID vaccination in schools for whatever reason, or who are yet to have the vaccination in school… every opportunity to get vaccinated.”

The sessions will take place at PRSA and the Lincolnshire Showground for the remainder of this half-term week Wednesday-Friday from 2pm-7pm, and Saturday-Sunday from 10am-4pm.

In light of this evening’s bar and nightclub boycott in Lincoln over concerns of drink spiking, plans have been made for safe havens that people can go to instead.

The Lincoln Night In event on October 27 is part of a national push for awareness and action against the rise of drink spiking incidents in the nightlife industry.

The name was recently changed from Girls Night In Lincoln in an attempt to become more inclusive, and highlight that all are welcome to join the movement.

Lincolnshire Police said that eight reports of drink spiking have been received in Lincoln so far in October, none of which involved spiking by injection, and no culprits have yet been found.

In response to the event, nightclubs and bars across the city issued messages of reassurance that they are doing all they can to combat the issue, whether that be using the Ask For Angela service, having drink testing kits behind bars or offering drink toppers to prevent spiking.

Cllr Calum Watt, City of Lincoln councillor for Boultham Ward, gave his support to those participating, and said “the solutions lie in education and in nightclubs improving the way the look after their patrons.”

There are a couple of planned events in the city for people taking part in the boycott to attend should they want a safe space to go on Wednesday evening.

The Lion & Snake at the Bailgate in Lincoln. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

The Lion and Snake pub on the Bailgate in Lincoln will be hosting a girls night from 7.30pm to show solidarity for the movement.

In a statement posted to social media, a spokesperson for the pub said: “At the Lion and Snake we believe that everyone should feel safe on a night out, be it anywhere they like.

“Safety is a top priority at our pub and so we’re in the process of obtaining drink test kits for our customers and have operated the Ask Angela scheme for at least four years now. No one should be worried about going out and enjoying themselves at any time, ever.”

As well as this, the University of Lincoln Student Union’s women’s officer will be hosting an event at The Gateway on Ruston Way from 9pm-midnight for anyone who doesn’t want to be alone on boycott night.

The women’s officer said of the event: “There will be board games, tea and coffee, poster making, but most importantly, there will be people that care for your safety and well-being.”

The boycott coincides with the SU’s Quack! event at The Engine Shed, which is a Halloween special this evening, and Lincoln Night In has said it is “disappointed” to see the event being advertised.

A spokesperson for the Lincoln Night In event told The Lincolnite that there has been a “great deal of support” for the boycott, which is “really important for a movement like this.”

“Obviously we are disappointed that the Students’ Union is still promoting its Halloween event tonight, but we do appreciate the work of the SU officer and all the societies choosing to boycott.”

A series of pop-up sessions will be held at Lincolnshire’s two mass vaccination centres during half-term to give children aged 12-15 the opportunity to get their coronavirus vaccinations.

The pop-ups are being provided by specially trained staff and have been scheduled to support the ongoing vaccination programme of 12 to 15-year-olds in schools across the county.

They will run between at the PRSA in Boston and the Lincolnshire Showground between 2pm and 7pm from Wednesday, October 27 to Friday, October 29. Further sessions will run over the weekend between 10am and 4pm on Saturday and Sunday, October 30 and 31.

This comes as around 30% of eligible 12 to 15-year-olds across the county have been vaccinated. The vaccination programme will run through November as the NHS in Lincolnshire continue to visit schools in the county.

Parents/guardians of 12 to 15-year-olds may also receive a letter from the national vaccination team inviting them to book an appointment for their child through the national booking system. This offer is in addition to the pop-ups running in Lincolnshire.

Rebecca Neno, Director of COVID and Influenza Vaccination Programmes at NHS Lincolnshire CCG, said: “Our teams vaccinating 12-15s in schools have been exceptionally busy over the last few weeks and are doing an amazing job, helped by the support and cooperation of our school colleagues.

“We want to offer children aged 12-15 who’ve missed their COVID vaccination in schools for whatever reason, or who are yet to have the vaccination in school, the opportunity to visit our Mass Vaccination Centres at PRSA, Boston, or the Lincolnshire Showground, so they have every opportunity to get vaccinated.

“Whilst these pop-up sessions mean your child can attend on a walk-in basis with no need to book an appointment, please remember you will need to first consent for your child to be vaccinated – this can be done online and the details are in the letter you will have received via your child’s school.

“We are really pleased with the uptake amongst 12-15s so far, we’re actually the second best performing county in our region for this age group. Just as with the rest of the vaccination programme, I urge anyone eligible to come forwards for their vaccination as soon as possible.”

Meanwhile, more than 74,000 booster vaccinations have been give across Lincolnshire to date. People will be offered a booster vaccination at least six months after their second dose.

It is advised to wait to be invited before phoning 119 or booking online as booster vaccinations are not available in Lincolnshire on a walk-in basis/without previously booking an appointment. If it has been 190 days since your second dose and you have not received an invite to book, you can try to book an appointment online.