Follow the latest coronavirus lockdown updates from Lincoln and Lincolnshire.
3,481 coronavirus cases in Greater Lincolnshire (up from 3,473)
2,528 in Lincolnshire (up from 2521)
736 in North Lincolnshire (no change)
217 in North East Lincolnshire (up from 216)
439 COVID-19 deaths in Greater Lincolnshire healthcare (no change)
143 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (no change)
4 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)
461 COVID-19 deaths from Greater Lincolnshire postcodes (no change)
319 from Lincolnshire (no change)
106 from North Lincolnshire (no change)
36 from North East Lincolnshire (no change)
304,695 cases, 46,201 deaths in total
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.
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27th July 2020 11:05am
Fourth COVID-19 death in July as 16 new cases confirmed
There has been one new coronavirus-related hospital death reported and 16 new cases of COVID-19 in the Greater Lincolnshire region over the weekend.
According to NHS figures, the death was reported at United Lincolnshire Hospitals on Sunday, taking the total number of people to die within the trusts facilities to 143.
Lincolnshire Community Health Service, Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust and Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals all remained unchanged.
According to the government’s coronavirus dashboard, 454 people from Greater Lincolnshire have died, with 438 of those confirmed to be in hospital facilities or care homes under local councils’ or hospital trusts’ care.
For confirmed cases, the weekend figures showed an increase of 14 in Lincolnshire, hitting the 2,500 mark.
Meanwhile, North Lincolnshire saw an increase of two, to a total of 733.
North Lincolnshire confirmed no further cases.
The breakdown for the total 3,446 cumulative cases is as follows:
2,500 in Lincolnshire (up from 2,486)
733 in North Lincolnshire (up from 731)
213 in North East Lincolnshire (no change)
Nationally, the number of cases increased to 299,426 while the number of deaths rose to 45,752.
27th July 2020 3:53pm
No COVID-19 deaths in Lincolnshire for Monday
Greater Lincolnshire has seen no coronavirus-related deaths in hospitals on Monday.
NHS statistics released this afternoon show none of the trusts across Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire or North East Lincolnshire reported any COVID-19 deaths.
The local figures break down as:
143 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)
So far this month there has been four COVID-19 related deaths in Greater Lincolnshire. The latest death reported yesterday (Sunday) brought to an end six-consecutive days without for the region.
Although figures will be further updated later today, the weekend saw 16 new confirmed cases .
The latest government statistics showed additional positive tests for Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire.
The total 3,446 cases for Greater Lincolnshire currently breaks down as:
2,500 in Lincolnshire (up from 2,486)
733 in North Lincolnshire (up from 731)
213 in North East Lincolnshire (no change)
27th July 2020 5:06pm
Six new coronavirus cases in Greater Lincolnshire
There have been six new COVID-19 cases confirmed in Greater Lincolnshire on Monday.
The government’s dashboard shows an additional four cases in Lincolnshire and two in North East Lincolnshire. No further cases were confirmed in North Lincolnshire.
So far there have been 3,452 cases across the region, which break down as:
2,504 in Lincolnshire (up from 2,500)
733 in North Lincolnshire (no change)
215 in North East Lincolnshire (up from 213)
Nationally cases passed the 300,000 mark, rising by 685 to 300,111.
There were seven deaths confirmed nationally, bringing the total to 45,759.
According to the government’s website there have also been no further deaths added to the tally for each area’s postcode, leaving the tally at 454.
It comes after NHS England figures said there were no additional deaths in hospitals covering the three local authorities.
The local figures for hospital services break down as:
143 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)
28th July 2020 10:51am
Quarantine after travel “tricky”, says Lincolnshire health boss
The latest quarantine rules for those returning from Spain creates a “tricky” situation for some holidaymakers, Lincolnshire health bosses have said.
The UK government is currently advising against all but essential travel to Spain, and has imposed the 14-day quarantine on anyone arriving from the country following a spike in cases.
Andy Fox, consultant in public health at Lincolnshire County Council, said anyone travelling to Spain would need to bear the quarantine period in mind.
“That is going to be too much for some people, it’s going to be tricky to do.
“That 14 day period of time will give plenty of time for you to develop symptoms and to get tested.
The latest move has caused heated debate between the two nation’s governments’.
Mr Fox said it was “really important to remember that we are still trying to prevent that second wave of infection in the UK.”
Lincolnshire is now at the bottom of the peak and back to levels of new cases similar to the beginning of the pandemic.
“[It] could potentially be far more disruptive than the first time and require maybe a second lockdown, which we all want to avoid.
“If it’s a choice between [quarantine] and entering another second wave, then the quarantine although disruptive – and I do feel for people whose holiday plans have been disrupted – will be far less disruptive than the impact of the second wave.”
He stopped short of saying Spain would be riskier than a staycation in Skegness and advised people travelling to ensure they take proper precautions against “unknown quantities”.
However, he said his family would be staying in the UK rather than travelling to France this year.
“I’m a big fan of holidaying overseas myself, I do love going to France but for this period of time we decided to stay in the UK.”
Meanwhile, Lincolnshire Police is the only UK force to fine a person for breaching quarantine after entering the country from abroad.
The fine was issued in Boston to a 39-year-old man who arrived from Bulgaria on July 13.
28th July 2020 12:01pm
Lincolnshire housing market heading for post-COVID “golden age”
Estate agents in Lincolnshire are experiencing a boom in sales post-lockdown, reaching levels not seen since the start of the millennium.
A combination of factors is being described including a change in how people from densely urban areas have expanded their needs after being stuck in apartments with little-to-no gardens or small “office” spaces for three months.
Trying to keep healthy and fit and working from home have presented their own problems – whereas many properties in Lincolnshire are cheaper while providing space or extra room.
Other factors include a cut to stamp duty, affordable prices, low mortgage interest rates as well as pent-up demand put on hold when lockdown began.
Tim Downing, of Pygott and Crone, said they had sold 185 houses in June and 200 so far in July – around 50% up on where they would normally be.
Second day without COVID-19 deaths in Lincolnshire
Greater Lincolnshire has seen no coronavirus-related deaths in hospitals on Tuesday.
NHS statistics released this afternoon show none of the trusts across Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire or North East Lincolnshire reported any COVID-19 deaths.
The local figures break down as:
143 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)
So far this month there has been four COVID-19 related deaths in Greater Lincolnshire. The latest death reported on Sunday brought to an end a six-consecutive day run without for the region.
Although figures will be further updated later today, Monday saw six new confirmed cases .
The total 3,452 cases for Greater Lincolnshire currently breaks down as:
2,504 in Lincolnshire (up from 2,500)
733 in North Lincolnshire (no change)
215 in North East Lincolnshire (up from 213)
29th July 2020 1:44pm
Tuk Tuk firm still hoping to move some summer trade
The owners of a new Tuk Tuk taxi tour planned for Lincoln are still hoping to make a go of their new venture this summer, should a licence be granted next week.
It had hoped to open in April, however, the coronavirus pandemic saw the country locked down the week before the licence was initially due to be reviewed.
If approved, owner Christine Kimbrell, says she is hoping they may still be able to take advantage of the last few weeks of summer to test the water, but would still need to find and employ a driver.
If not, then the service’s start will be pushed back to April 2021 at the latest.
Burger King is now back open at the St Marks Shopping Centre with a reduced menu, but also some tasty new items.
The fast food restaurant reopened at 11am on Wednesday, July 29 for dine in, takeaway and delivery and The Lincolnite was the first customer. It will have shorter opening hours from 12pm-8pm.
The reduced menu includes the new Halloumi Bacon King and a sharer box, which comes with five chicken fries, nuggets, chilli cheese bites, onions rings and two dips.
These Lincoln businesses are offering 50% off meals in August
The government will be subsidising meals out in August, and almost 100 businesses in Lincoln are taking part in the scheme.
It allows people to get 50% off meals and non-alcoholic drinks, up to £10 a head, when they dine in, every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, from August 3 to the end of the month.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak introduced the scheme as part of his summer statement to help get the economy running again after COVID-19.
Participating restaurants that register for Eat Out to Help Out scheme are be able to claim back all discounts.
There have been seven new COVID-19 cases confirmed in Greater Lincolnshire on Wednesday.
The government’s dashboard shows six new cases across Lincolnshire and one in North Lincolnshire.
There were no new confirmed cases in North East Lincolnshire.
There have been 13 cases confirmed so far since Monday morning.
So far there have been 3,452 cases across the region.
Nationally cases rose by 763 to 301,455.
There were 83 deaths confirmed nationally, bringing the total to 45,961.
Government’s updated figures also showed no increase in deaths of people from the three authorities leaving the total at 457.
The figure above includes not only the 438 deaths in hospitals and care homes, which saw no increases earlier today, but also deaths in the community or in hospitals outside the regions boundaries.
30th July 2020 11:19am
COVID-19 self-isolation period extended to 10 days
People must now self-isolate for a minimum of 10 days if they show coronavirus symptoms, new government guidance says.
The increase is an additional three days to the previous seven already advised.
It follows new evidence that people who become mildly ill can still be infectious seven to nine days after the onset of COVID-19.
A statement from the UK’s four chief medical officers said: “Evidence, although still limited, has strengthened and shows that people with COVID-19 who are mildly ill and are recovering have a low but real possibility of infectiousness between seven and nine days after illness onset.
Boston Christmas market gets funding boost from COVID cancelled events
Boston Christmas Market is still set to go ahead, with funds from 2020 events cancelled by COVID-19 ploughed into it.
According to a report before Boston Town Area Committee, the plan is for a four-day event.
Under the current plans, unspent money would increase the Christmas budget from £14,500 to £22,000.
The plan would be to hold a four-day event in the Bargate Green car park starting on the day of the Christmas Lights Switch On and would include alpine wooden huts, a small fairground ride, live music and a food and drink area.
Some £2,000 of the budget would be used to retest lighting columns ready for the next two events seasons.
A further £13,500 unspent budget could also be used to create an “illuminated fire farden” in partnership with public arts organisation Transported.
Burton Road Chippy closing restaurant due to COVID-19
The popular Burton Road Chippy will not be reopening its restaurant due to the coronavirus crisis, but the takeaway will remain open as usual ahead of moving to new premises this autumn.
With the restaurant closing, the chippy located at 169 Burton Road will move to number 119, next door to Teleservice, in mid-September where it will continue to offer takeaway only.
It will restart its gluten-free offering once it has moved into the new shop. In the meantime, the takeaway will remain open at its current location.
Greater Lincolnshire’s hospitals reported a new coronavirus-related death on Thursday.
The latest NHS figures show one further death of a patient who tested positive for coronavirus at Lincolnshire Community Health Service facilities.
No other deaths were reported at trusts across the region.
So far this month there has been five COVID-19 related deaths in Greater Lincolnshire.
Nationally, a further 12 people who tested positive for the Coronavirus have died in hospitals in England bringing the total to 29,329.
266 people have died in hospitals across the region so far during the pandemic.
Government figures are due to be updated later today, but currently put the total tally at 457 people from the three local authorities who have died.
The figure includes deaths outside healthcare services and those which took place in other authorities.
Wednesday saw seven new confirmed cases, bringing the cumulative total for Greater Lincolnshire to 3,459.
31st July 2020 11:15am
July is the lowest month for new COVID-19 cases in Lincolnshire
July is set to be the month with the fewest cases of COVID-19 in Lincolnshire since the start of the pandemic.
There were six new positive coronavirus cases reported on the government’s dashboard late on Thrusday: three in Lincolnshire, two in North Lincolnshire and one in North East Lincolnshire.
There was also one new COVID-19 death in the same update, separate to hospital figures and organised by postcode, bringing the county total to 316.
Overall there have been 125 new cases across Greater Lincolnshire this month, not including a large dump of ‘pillar two’ data (from testing sites, mobile and home testing) by government on July 2.
No increase in yearly death rate in Lincolnshire despite coronavirus peak
Lincolnshire saw nearly the same amount of people die in the first half of the year as the past five-year average — however the numbers align with the COVID-pandemic, say health bosses.
Lincolnshire County Council’s director of public health Derek Ward said the county saw 4,261 deaths in total between January to June this year.
The five-year average for Lincolnshire in that time period is 4,258 — just three deaths lower.
However, Mr Ward said that from January to March deaths were 20-30% lower than in previous years.
“And then from week 14 we saw a spike in all cause mortality that, obviously, corresponds with the peak of the epidemic in the county where we were seeing 50% more deaths than we would normally do at that time of year,” he said.
“And then it drops back down as we came back down from the peak and now we’re back to our normal season on average.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has postponed lifting certain COVID-19 lockdown restrictions in response to an increase cases of the virus.
Cinemas, bowling alleys, skating rinks and casinos were among the venues due to be able to open from tomorrow (Saturday, August 1), however, will now have to wait until at least August 15.
In a briefing on Friday, Mr Johnson also announced that from August 8, face coverings will be “encouraged” in more venues such as museums, galleries, cinemas and places of worship.
He said the government had previously said they “would not hesitate to put the brakes on” if cases rose, and said now was “the time to squeeze that brake pedal in order to keep the virus under control.”
Mr Johnson said: “I’m really, really sorry about that, but we really cannot take the risk.”
Imps lost £1.5m in matchday revenue due to COVID-19
Lincoln City Football Club has missed out on over £1.5 million in matchday revenue as a result of COVID-19, a new analysis shows.
Business Rescue Expert looked at the potential revenue lost by football teams due to coronavirus lockdown. It found the absence of supporters in stadiums has had big detrimental impact on football teams, particularly Lincoln City.
Of all the teams from League One, the Imps rank 5th in the amount of money they have lost, totalling an estimate of £1,509,648.
Lincoln Drill Hall will not reopen until early 2021 at the earliest, as the current government guidance would mean a large majority of its shows would still be “financially unviable”.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced earlier this month that indoor performances with socially distanced audiences will be able to take place across the country at indoor theatres, music and performance venues from August 1. Then on Friday he announced a further 15-days delay.
However, Lincoln Drill Hall, New Theatre Royal and the Lincoln Performing Arts Centre have all decided not return any time soon.
Grantham packing factory cutting 19 staff due to COVID
Nineteen staff are at risk of redundancy at a factory in Grantham as part of a restructure of the business caused by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Macfarlane Packaging Design and Manufacture operation on the Alma Park Industrial Estate in Grantham employs 88 staff. It designs and produces protective packaging for high value items for industrial customers.
The packaging site, which is owned by the Macfarlane Group PLC in Scotland, plans to reduce the number of roles down to 69 and a consultation process is underway until the end of August. It will also explore redeploying staff elsewhere in the company.
More frustrated drivers have come forward with their stories of bogus fines at a Lincoln retail park — and when The Lincolnite asked the parking warden to explain the situation, he said he was “not allowed to comment”.
The Lincolnite has reported about the issues at Tritton Road Retail Park for over six years, and dodgy activity was previously uncovered, such as rule changes without warning and attendants encouraged to ‘bend the rules’ for bonuses at the car park operated by UK Parking Control (UKPC) Ltd.
We went back to the car park on Friday and tried to speak with the parking attendant directly, so UKPC — who ignored all media requests — could present their side of the story, but he said he was “not allowed” to speak to us.
Two people recently came forward after receiving parking fines which they claim are bogus. This prompted more frustrated shoppers to contact The Lincolnite to share their experiences – if you are fined, it is advised not to automatically pay it straight away – see useful advice here from MoneySavingExpert.
Jo Chambers went out shopping to Homesense with her partner on July 18 for her new home in Waddington Heath. However, when they returned to her car they were confronted by a ticket stating “vehicle owner/driver left the site”.
Jo Chambers appealed her fine and it was later rescinded.
Jo’s Home Sense receipt and proof of parking, and the parking charge.
After appealing the fine, it was rescinded and Jo received a letter of apology, but she still wanted to raise awareness to others about the issue.
The letter from UKPC’s Appeals Department states: “We understand your frustration and appreciate the inconvenience this has caused you. It is not our intention to cause undue worry and frustration when enforcing our clients’ terms and conditions of parking.
“We have investigated your appeal based on the information submitted and whilst we feel that the parking charge was correctly issued and that we were following the guidelines and enforcement controls agreed with our client, we have decided in this instance to cancel the parking charge as a gesture of goodwill.”
Jo told The Lincolnite: “The letter of apology was a joke, stating the employee was in his every right to issue the fine, but as a gesture of goodwill they would rescind the fine, not taking any liability whatsoever.
“Surely the shops and council should confront this scam. We will not park and shop there unless we are on foot now, and if we do we take photos as evidence, which we shouldn’t need to.
“It’s the older vulnerable generation that I’m more concerned about as they are likely to panic and just pay it.”
Another driver is currently trying to appeal his fine.
Another driver, who wished to remain anonymous, received a ticket on September 29, stating “vehicle owner/driver left the site,” but he said: “I parked my car and did some browsing in Halfords, following by some shopping in Home Bargains, and then came (back) to a ticket on my window.
“I have emailed them twice with proof of what I did that day and got nothing back. It’s been over two weeks so I paid the £60 rather than the £100, with a follow-up email about it, but still have nothing back.”
After receiving a ticket on October 5 stating “not parked correctly within the markings of the bay or space”, another driver said: “It had no markings saying I couldn’t park there or no double yellow lines.”
Car park needs to be bigger, says retailer
The Lincolnite tried to get the perspective of retailers in the area.
Staff at ScS said they get customers in every now and again with a car parking issue and try to support them where they can.
The staff said: “There needs to be extra car parking in the area, as well as in the retail park, or the flexibility to go off site. The wardens are doing a good job.
“People shouldn’t be going off site, but ultimately this car park isn’t big enough for the retailers and customers.”
There was nobody available to provide a comment at Homesense, Halfords, Pets at Home, Carpet Right, Oak Furnitureland or Smyths Toys.
A parking charge notice was placed on the vehicle within 11 minutes of the driver being in Starbucks. | Photo: The Lincolnite
UKPC Ltd
Every time The Lincolnite has approached UKPC for a statement, there has been virtually no response, including on Monday and Tuesdays October 11 and 12. The only automated response came after also contacting the complaints email, saying: “Please be advised we have received your appeal. Please allow up to 35 days for a response.”
We went to the car park on Tuesday, October 12 and, whilst there, another man received a fine — but no attendant was to be seen. They appear to stay covert in their unmarked cars in order to avoid confrontation with shoppers.
Although an attendant did confirm to the reporter that he was from UKPC on Friday, October 15, he claimed he was “not allowed to comment” and advised contacting the company via the website.
In addition, when you try to phone the company and choose from the various different options, an automated voice informs you that it cannot be dealt with on the phone, and appeals must be made in writing.
UKPC says “we pride ourselves to alleviate your parking difficulties”, but we, and many customers, have struggled to get an official reply from them.
The firm is run by Rupert and Amanda Williams, who enjoy a luxury lifestyle and a string of fancy cars, according to The Mirror. The Mirror also reported last year that the parking firm claims taxpayer cash despite making £1.3 million profit in 2019.
If you have encountered an issue at this car park, please contact us at [email protected] with as many details and evidence as possible.
UKPC Ltd’s signage at the Tritton Road Retail Park. A sticker was visibly placed over the no parking hours last year. | Photo: The Lincolnite
Not a new problem
In November 2018, residents said they were planning to boycott the car park after they introduced new £100 fines for “leaving the site”.
Drivers at the time said they had not been warned about the change of rules, except for a small yellow notice on the signs at the car park.
Earlier the same year, in April 2018, it was reported that UK Parking Control was fined almost £6,000 for refusing to provide CCTV footage from a Lincoln car park that would have helped an investigation into fly-tipping.
The car park’s operator UKPC was also embroiled in a scandal in 2015 where drivers appealed against fraudulent parking tickets after revelations from The Lincolnite.
More than 9,000 bins have been rejected by a Lincolnshire council so far this week as authorities clamp down on what can and can’t be recycled.
North Kesteven District Council’s recent introduction of a purple bin for dry and clean paper and cardboard has caused confusion with nearly 20% of green bins – meant for plastic bottles and cans – not emptied by refuse collectors, in the second collection since the scheme started.
Residents have hit out at the amount of rubbish left behind and the council’s strict rules – with some even resorting to abuse of the refuse collectors – but NKDC bosses say recycling contamination is “undermining” their efforts and that advice is being offered to residents who break the rules.
Here’s the breakdown of collections this week so far:
Monday – 1,864 rejected (19% of bins presented)
Tuesday – 2,279 rejected (19.5%)
Wednesday – 2,651 rejected (23%)
Thursday – 2,320 rejected (21%)
Lynda Somers took to North Hykeham Community Page to write: “The straw that broke the camel’s back… I am so meticulous in my recycling but bin not emptied to day. I want to dump it all and the two bins at the [NKDC] office. I will no longer recycle, I’m going to order a big black bin.”
And her sentiments were echoed by several others.
Others took a lighter approach, with Daryl James writing: “Just heard there will be public floggings held at the North Hykeham Village Green Saturday morning for all of the naughty folk that didn’t obey the strict green bin protocols… please bring your tag of shame so it can warrant how many floggings you will receive.”
A North Kesteven District Council illustration of what should go in each bin. | Image: NKDC
In the first purple bin collection week, which ran from September 27, just 1.5% of bins were rejected.
A spokesman for North Kesteven District Council emphasised that what can and can’t be recycled hadn’t changed, just where it went.
Council leader, Councillor Richard Wright, said: “Contamination is an issue which is increasingly impacting on how much can be recycled and undermining all the efforts our households are making on their recycling at home.
“The only way to stop this is by everyone taking responsibility for our waste, by making sure only the right thing goes into the right bin.”
He said the council had been communicating with residents on the new rules since July.
North Kesteven District Council leader Richard Wright.
“We never want to leave a bin unemptied unless it’s really necessary,” he added.
“The wrong things regularly found in green-lidded bins – from soft plastics such as film lids and carrier bags to other items such as kitchen roll and used tissues, takeaway containers and even dirty nappies – can’t be recycled and contaminate other good recycling in bins and even the lorry load itself.
“This results in not only increased sorting costs but less items recycled as residents expect them to be,” he said.
Improvement works at the A17 Holdingham Roundabout are on track to be completed by the end of the year, Lincolnshire County Council promised, as final touches are added to the road development scheme.
The project to widen Holdingham Roundabout and reduce congestion in the area began in February, with a view to completing the roadworks and reopening the roundabout this December.
It is still on track to be completed within this time frame, weather permitting, after all but one of the roundabout’s legs were resurfaced.
Remaining works will now see new traffic signals installed at the roundabout, as well as new drainage, street lights, kerning and traffic monitoring cameras, as well as a new footway.
The £8.25 million A17 Holdingham Roundabout scheme, alongside the A17/A153 Rugby Club junction development, has been funded by North Kesteven District Council, Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership, Lincolnshire County Council and development contributors.
As part of the next stage of works, the B1518 Sleaford will close overnight for five evenings, starting Monday, November 1, lasting between 7.30pm and 5.30am.
The diversion route for this closure will be via the B1517 / A15 North and vice versa.
Cllr Richard Davies, executive member for highways, said: “Our works to Holdingham Roundabout are going incredibly well – and, if the weather agrees with us, we’ll have it fully back open, before Christmas with the new traffic signals in operation.
“Recently, Eurovia has finished laying new road surfacing at all of the roundabout’s legs, apart from one.
“The only leg left to do is the B1518 Sleaford, which was pushed back slightly due to wet weather. Instead, we’re now planning to finish surfacing this area overnight during the first week of November.
“We’ve also identified some additional sections of the A15 Bourne leg that need to be surfaced, so the team will also be coming back overnight in the coming weeks to carry out that work, dates to be confirmed.”
Mr Davies continues: “Once fully re-opened, people traveling in and around Sleaford should experience safer, smoother journeys and shorter travel times – something that will benefit tens of thousands of people each day.”
There have been 4,075 cases of coronavirus so far this week in Greater Lincolnshire as further investigations are launched into a testing lab which could have wrongly told 43,000 people their tests were negative.
The figure is 12.2% higher than the 3,578 cases at the same point last week. There have been 1,599 new cases since Wednesday evening’s figures.
The latest government data also shows there have been 12 deaths of Lincolnshire residents – up from seven last week – and six deaths reported at Greater Lincolnshire’s hospitals – the same as last week.
Since Wednesday’s figures, the latest COVID stats for Lincolnshire are:
1,599 new cases of coronavirus in Greater Lincolnshire with 1,235 in Lincolnshire, 159 in North East Lincolnshire and 205 in North Lincolnshire
Five further deaths were recorded in the government figures including three Lincolnshire, one North East Lincolnshire and one North Lincolnshire residents
Hospital data showed two further deaths with one at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust and one at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals Trust
In other news, a testing centre in Wolverhampton has been suspended after an investigation by NHS Test and Trace found that 43,000 people in England and Wales may have been falsely told there COVID-19 tests were negative.
Further investigations are taking place to find out why it took so long to identify the failures at the private laboratory which were sparked by concerns when people had positive lateral flow tests, but negative follow-up PCR results from the lab between September 8 and October 12 this year.
All samples from the lab, where Immensa Health Clinic Ltd runs the testing operations, are now being sent to other labs.
Lincolnshire’s coronavirus cases up to October 15. | Image: GOV.uk
Elsewhere, the latest Office for National Statistics figures showed that one in 60 people in England had COVID in the most recent week. It compares to the peak of the second wave in early January when around one in 50 was estimated to have COVID.
The UK Health Security Agency, however, has said England’s R number has held steady at 0.9 to 1.1.
It means that for every 10 people infected, they will on average infect between 9 and 11 other people.
NHS England says more than three million booster jabs have now been administered, with two in five people aged 50 and over coming forward.
Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Friday, October 15
126,349 cases (up 1,599 since Wednesday)
83,377 in Lincolnshire (up 1,235)
20,908 in North Lincolnshire (up 205)
22,064 in North East Lincolnshire (up 159)
2,373 deaths (up five)
1,736 from Lincolnshire (up three)
325 from North Lincolnshire (up one)
312 from North East Lincolnshire (up one)
of which 1,426 hospital deaths (up two)
875 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (up one)
44 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)
1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
506 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (up one)
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.
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