A further nine Lincolnshire schools have positive cases of coronavirus on Thursday.
Lincolnshire County Council said on Thursday, November 19 that it is working with 109 schools and 10 nurseries with COVID-19 infections.
The latest Lincolnshire schools added to the council’s list are Springwell Alternative Academy (Spalding), Somercotes Academy (North Somercotes), Boston Pioneers Academy, Chapel St Leonards Primary School, Church Lane Primary School (Sleaford), Community Learning in Partnership (Gainsborough), Hogsthorpe Primary Academy, Spalding Grammar School and Great Steeping Primary School (Spilsby), with the latter listed as closed.
Boston Grammar School, which is not yet on the council’s list, reportedly sent an entire year group home from school after a confirmed case of coronavirus.
Students in Year 10 were asked to self-isolate until Monday, November 30. The school were contacted a number of times and there was no reply by the time of publication.
Louth Academy was already on the list due to two staff previously testing positive, but it announced on November 19 that a Year 8 student has now tested positive for COVID-19, resulting in 13 students being asked to self-isolate for 14 days as a precaution.
The Academy is understood to be the only secondary school in Louth that continues to offer full-time education to students at the moment.
Meanwhile, the schools currently listed as closed are Great Steeping Primary School (Spilsby), King Edward VI Grammar (Louth), St Lawrence School (Horncastle), Holton Le Clay Pre-School, Newton on Trent Primary School (Lincoln), John Spendluffe Technology College (Alford), Greenfields Academy (Grantham), and South View Community Primary School (Crowland).
Andy Fox, consultant in public health, said: “As of this Thursday, Lincolnshire’s Health Protection Team is currently working with 109 schools that have had confirmed cases of coronavirus.
“All schools are taking action to limit the potential spread of the virus, with some pupils and staff self-isolating as a precaution where necessary.
“The majority of schools remain fully open, and those affected are working really well to limit both the risk of the virus spreading and the impact on the pupils’ education.”
These are the schools with current confirmed cases, according to the county council (new in bold at the top):
Springwell Alternative Academy, Spalding
Somercotes Academy, North Somercotes
Boston Pioneers Academy
Chapel St Leonards Primary School
Church Lane Primary School, Sleaford
Community Learning in Partnership, Gainsborough
Hogsthorpe Primary Academy
Spalding Grammar School
Great Steeping Primary School (closed)
Lincoln College
Queen Elizabeth High School, Gainsborough
Kesteven and Sleaford High School
Bluecoat Meres Academy, Grantham
Kesteven and Grantham Girls School
Priory LSST, Lincoln
Boston College
Malcolm Sargent Primary School, Stamford
St George’s Academy, Sleaford
St Peter and St Paul Academy, Lincoln
Stamford Endowed Schools
Branston Community Academy
Grantham College
The King’s School, Grantham
Westgate Academy, Lincoln
William Farr School, Welton, Lincoln
Kisimul School Acacia Hall, Freisthorpe
Leslie Manser Primary, Lincoln
Market Deepings Community Primary
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Horncastle
University Academy Long Sutton
De Aston School, Market Rasen
Bourne Academy
Carre’s Grammar School, Sleaford
Hartsholme Academy, Lincoln
Holbeach Primary Academy
The Deepings School
Spalding High School
Spalding Parish School
William Alvey School, Sleaford
Barnes Wallis Academy, Tattershall
Bourne Grammar School
Spalding Academy
Tedder County Primary School, Ashby de la Launde
Alford Primary School
Caistor Grammar School
St Thomas’ CE Primary Academy, Boston
Whitewood Academy, Gainsborough
Scotter Primary School
The Village Pre-School at Manor Farm, North Hykeham
Bardney CE Primary School
Wragby Primary School
Linchfield Community Primary
The Gainsborough Parish Church CE Primary School
Thomas Cowley High School, Spalding
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Alford
Wyberton Primary School
Burton Hathow Preparatory School
Priory Ruskin Academy, Grantham
Giles Academy, Boston
Branston Junior Academy
Waddingham Primary School
Fosse Way Academy, North Hykeham
St Faith’s Infant and Nursery School
Clough and Risegate Primary School, Spalding
Kirton Primary School
Mablethorpe Primary Academy
Ruskington Chestnut Primary Academy
Louth Academy
The Holt Primary School, Skellingthorpe
St Lawrence School, Horncastle (closed)
Springwell Alternative Academy, Lincoln
Priory City of Lincoln Academy
Holton Le Clay Pre-School (closed)
South View Community Primary School, Crowland (closed)
Westmere Primary, Spalding
Ermine Primary Academy, Lincoln
King Edward VI Grammar School, Louth (closed)
Sir Robert Pattinson Academy, North Hykeham
Boston High School
North Kesteven Academy, North Hykeham
Pinchbeck East Primary School
Tower Road Academy, Boston
Newton on Trent Primary School, Lincoln (closed)
Fleet Wood Lane Primary School, Spalding
Colsterworth Primary School
Kidgate Primary Academy, Louth
William Lovell CofE Academy, Stickney
John Spendluffe Technology College, Alford (closed)
Walton Academy, Grantham
St Faith and St Martin Junior School, Lincoln
Market Deepings Community Primary School
St Hugh’s Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy, Lincoln
Stamford Junior School
Belton Lane Primary School, Grantham
Greenfields Academy, Grantham (closed)
North Thoresby Primary Academy
The Priory School, Spalding
Washingborough Academy
Theddlethorpe Academy
Cliffedale Primary School, Grantham
Priory Witham Academy, Lincoln
Manor Leas Infant School, Lincoln
Lincoln UTC
Cowbit St Mary’s Primary School, Cowbit, Spalding
St Anne’s Primary School, Grantham
Cranwell Primary School
Gonerby Hill Foot Primary School, Grantham
Billingborough Primary School
Holton Le Clay Junior School
The county council confirmed on Thursday that no school cases have been closed by Public Health England since the last update.
Public Health are also aware of the following 10 nurseries with positive cases:
Limes Play and Learn, Louth
Angels Childcare, Lincoln
Nutwood Day Nursery, Lincoln
Clarence House Day Nursery, Grantham
Elsaforde Nursery, Sleaford
Sunflowers Nursery, Saxilby
Mon Ami Day Nursery, Alford
Young Tots Nursery, Lincoln
Smart Pants Day Nursery, Mablethorpe
White House Farm Day Nursery, Grantham
Lincoln Minster Nursery said in a letter to Pre-Prep parents/carers on November 13 that a member of its school community, within the nursery bubble, had tested positive for COVID-19. However, the nursery was not on Thursday’s list.
North East Lincolnshire Council
More recent data is not yet available regarding the exact number of schools currently with cases in North East Lincolnshire.
The last data provided by North East Lincolnshire Council on November 2 stated that at the time it was working with 21 suspected or confirmed cases in education settings in the area. On November 10 the council had notification of three more schools with suspected cases.
North Lincolnshire
North Lincolnshire Council said it will not provide any data regarding schools in the region with coronavirus cases.
There have been at least seven schools with publicly confirmed cases since term restarted.
Spotted an error? Please notify us by selecting that text and pressing Ctrl+Enter.
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
There have been 41 new coronavirus cases and no COVID-related deaths in Greater Lincolnshire on Wednesday — down from 67 cases and two deaths last Wednesday.
The government’s COVID-19 dashboard recorded 21 new cases in Lincolnshire, 11 in North East Lincolnshire and nine in North Lincolnshire.
On Wednesday, -2 deaths were registered in Lincolnshire and none in Northern Lincolnshire. These figures include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county. Fluctuations in data can occur for a variety of reasons including corrected data, misdiagnoses or wrong addresses.
NHS England has reported no new local hospital deaths at the four Greater Lincolnshire health trusts.
On Wednesday, national cases increased by 2,491 to 4,378,305, while deaths rose by 38 to 127,161.
In local news, more than a third of call-outs for Lincolnshire Police assistance are related to mental health issues, as the force has seen spikes in suicide rates affecting young people disproportionately.
This has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and multiple lockdowns across the UK, with Lincolnshire Police Chief Constable Chris Haward expecting further increases in mental health reports as the county leaves lockdown.
Since Monday, Greater Lincolnshire’s average infection rate has fallen, compared to the England average that has seen a small increase.
Boston, North Lincolnshire, South Kesteven and Lincoln City have seen small spikes since Monday, with North Kesteven remaining the same and the other districts noticing a reduction.
Boston has the 8th highest infection rate in the UK currently.
Here’s Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rates up to April 14, according to the government dashboard:
Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rates from Apr 7 to Apr 14. | Data: Gov UK / Table: James Mayer for The Lincolnite
In national news, about of half of the UK population in private households is estimated to have COVID-19 antibodies, meaning they have been vaccinated or were previously infected.
A survey by the Office for National Statistics suggests that an estimated 54.9% of people in England had the antibodies in the week ending March 28. This figure is largely unchanged from the previous two weeks, when the last survey was done.
A major UK trial looking at whether COVID vaccines can be mixed with different types of jabs used for first and second doses is being expanded.
Combining vaccines might give broader, longer-lasting immunity against the virus and new variants of it, and offer more flexibility to vaccine rollout.
Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Wednesday, April 14
Greater Lincolnshire includes Lincolnshire and the unitary authorities of North and North East (Northern) Lincolnshire.
58,813 cases (up 41)
40,956 in Lincolnshire (up 21)
9,254 in North Lincolnshire (up nine)
8,603 in North East Lincolnshire (up 11)
2,182 deaths (no change)
1,611 from Lincolnshire (down two)
303 from North Lincolnshire (no change)
268 from North East Lincolnshire (no change)
of which 1,302 hospital deaths (no change)
810 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (no change)
41 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)
1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
450 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (no change)
4,378,305 UK cases, 127,161 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.
A Lincoln-based tech CEO has been included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for technology.
Leo Scott Smith was recognised by Forbes for his work as CEO of Tended, the Lincoln-based tech firm which has famously pushed boundaries with live-saving technology.
He set up Tended at just 22-years-old back in 2017, with the vision of putting an end to avoidable injuries and deaths in a workplace environment.
Since its inception, Tended has expanded massively and now has offices in London and China, as well as right here in Lincoln.
Leo was also included in The Lincolnite’s 2019 30 Under 30 list for Lincolnshire after the launch of his Tended Protect product, a wrist-worn device that detects danger in the workplace.
Leo Scott Smith is the CEO of Tended, based in Lincoln.
It was during a charity visit to Nepal where Leo first had the idea for his technology, realising that if he were to be in danger, he may not be found.
This prompted the beginning of Tended and the subsequent Tended Protect wristband, which can call for help in case of an emergency, and even sends GPS locations to trusted contacts.
In 2020 he continued to innovate and create, launching a vibrating wrist strap that can sense when someone comes within a pre-set distance of you, helping businesses to maintain social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
If staff breach a minimum separation distance, their wearable will vibrate to notify them to move away.
Now his efforts have been recognised even further, with famous clients such as Rolls Royce, Network Rail and Siemens all using his company’s technology.
Speaking about his inclusion in the Forbes list, Leo said: “It’s really great to be recognised for such a highly acclaimed award. It’s a huge achievement and a testament to the team at Tended as without them, the award would not have been possible.”
Lincolnshire’s Police Chief Constable says lockdown rule enforcement and relaxing COVID restrictions are the main challenges the force has at the moment, especially with a high demand for holidaying in the summer in coastal areas.
This comes as between 45 and 50 coronavirus breaches are reported each day to Lincolnshire Police.
Chris Haward became the new Chief Constable for Lincolnshire on December 19, 2020, moving his role as East Midlands Deputy Chief Constable, and replacing Bill Skelly who retired.
CC Haward said: “We’re now planning for June 21 [when further restrictions are lifted], and what that might mean to our resources and our resilience.
“We know for the east coast it’s mainly going to be people holidaying in the UK this year, and probably for next year as well, that the demand for holiday homes and caravans across the east coast is huge.
“We’re expecting a real rise in the population through the summer months. So that’s definitely a challenge for us.”
He added: “When we first started COVID enforcement, we were getting between 12 and 15 calls per day about COVID breaches, we are now averaging over 45 to 50 per day. So that’s definitely a big demand on us as we come into the summer months.
“It will be about antisocial behaviour and public order and rowdiness, particularly in our coastal towns.”
Lincolnshire Police handed out eight fines after three house parties in the Ermine area of Lincoln, on the same evening COVID lockdown restrictions eased for outdoor hospitality and non-essential retail shops reopened.
CC Haward said: “I urge people to abide by the roadmap that the government have set out. If we if we take our time, and we do it properly, then we’re more likely to come out of lockdown, and will be able to remain out of lockdown.
“We’ve come this far and for the sake of another two months, let’s just hold on to the discipline that we’ve had.”
He reflects fondly on his first 100 days in the role: “It’s been fantastic. Because of the time that I’ve joined with leading up to March and the new financial year, all the planning has given me an opportunity to go out and meet a good proportion of my officers and get out to some of the stations.”
Lincolnshire Police issued 367 COVID-19 enforcement fines, including those under local lockdowns, between March and December last year.
Eight fines were for breaches of face coverings regulations and another eight for international travel regulations.