Lincolnshire’s health bosses are monitoring the coronavirus situation in neighbouring Newark, where cases tripled in the last week.
Eight cases of COVID-19 were also reported at the Bakkavor Dessert Factory in Newark on Wednesday, sparking warnings from the MP Robert Jenrick and other authorities.
According to the government’s dashboard, cases in Newark and Sherwood have increased by nine since Saturday, August 1. Since July 27 there have been 27 extra cases recorded officially.
However, it is unclear whether this includes the cases at the factory or if they are still to be added on to the figures.
BBC’s East Midlands Today reported this afternoon that the increase in Newark and Sherwood puts the region among the top 25 local authorities in the UK for cases.
With many commuting into the region, Lincolnshire County Council’s Director of Public Health Derek Ward said: “We continue to monitor our own figures and are sharing information across our border authorities to make sure we are aware and linked in with relevant incidents.”
Earlier this week it was revealed new powers given to local councils to tackle outbreaks included the ability to demolish contaminated homes and crush cars as a last resort in a bid to stop a second wave.
However, Mr Ward said the county was “a long way away” from those kinds of extremities.
“We’ll look at the powers available and national guidance available as necessary if we get to the stage of contaminated properties.
“But we are a long way away from anything this extreme in Lincolnshire – where we continue to have a relatively low transmission of the disease and a robust, well established health protection system in place.”
Government figures are due out later today, but yesterday the number of cases in the county rose by six.
There have so far been 2,543 confirmed cases in the county in total.
Elsewhere, NHS England confirmed this afternoon (Thursday) there had been no further hospital deaths at any of the Greater Lincolnshire hospital trusts (including Northern Lincolnshire and Goole) for a seventh day in a row.
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Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) has confirmed plans to jet-wash blocked gullies in Leadenham following persistent flooding, which has left residents and businesses in constant fear of property damage during heavy rainfall.
The council intends to jet the A607 outside Leadenham Post Office as an urgent measure to mitigate ongoing flood risks, with a full clean scheduled for January. The announcement comes after a plea from Leadenham Parish Councillor Martyn Everett, who highlighted significant flooding along Sleaford Road.
A senior lecturer recently celebrated the news that East Midlands Railway will increase its train capacity on what he felt was an “overcrowded” service between Lincoln and Leicester.
Amir Badiee lives in Loughborough and for the past seven years has been commuting to his job at the University of Lincoln, but over the last two years he believes the train service has got worse. When he complained back in March he said he didn’t receive any response, but he believes his recent concerns aired in The Lincolnite helped to prompt a positive outcome.