The new COVID-19 vaccination site at the Princess Royal Sports Arena in Boston. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
A new COVID-19 vaccination centre, one of the largest in the country, will open in Boston next week, and The Lincolnite went for a look inside.
The centre is based at the Princess Royal Sports Arena on Great Fen Road, and will be operational as of Monday, January 18.
It will be helping to deliver the national coronavirus vaccine rollout, offering vaccinations to vulnerable people in key priority groups.
A look inside Boston’s new COVID-19 vaccine site. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The first patients to use the centre will live within 45 minutes of the site and are in the process of being contacted to book an appointment.
Strict coronavirus guidelines are, of course, in place at the centre, including the wearing of a face covering at all times.
It is among the largest in the country. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Social distancing has been set out by staff and volunteers at the centre, as well as a one-way system to avoid people crossing over.
The centre has been introduced as a response to the large volume of coronavirus cases in the Boston area, as well as two rapid mass testing sites which will open next week.
Staff will replenish PPE and help with any issues patients have. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Boston remains alongside Grantham and Lincoln as one of the Lincolnshire areas with the highest COVID transmission.
How the vaccination beds look. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Here are the steps and where to go when getting your COVID-19 vaccination at the new Boston site.
Step 1: You will be greeted at the entrance and encouraged to sanitise your hands, before being guided through a single-file door to the next stage.
You are directed through a single-file door towards the centre. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Step 2: Once you are through the door, you will follow the one-way system through a gazebo, heading towards the vaccination hub.
A long gazebo-style walkway leads you to the main entrance of the hub. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Step 3: At the end of the tented walkway is the entrance to the sports hall, which is where you will be given your vaccine.
You will arrive at the sports hall, where the vaccination takes place. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Step 4: This is like the reception area, where you will sign in and wait further instruction, waiting in socially distanced seats behind a rope. This is where you will fill in a consent form.
You will be asked to wait in socially distanced spaces behind a rope before making your way to the main area. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Step 5: This is where you will be taken to allow for vaccinations to occur at a safe two-metre distance away from everyone else.
You will then be shown to a seat to wait for your vaccination to take place. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Step 6: Staff will be on hand to assist with any queries or concerns you have before getting called to the tent for vaccination.
Sanitiser and social distancing among the many measures inside the centre.| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Step 7: Once you have been vaccinated, you will be asked to leave the sports hall by following the designated exit signs.
Once the vaccination is done, you will be escorted away from the building safely. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
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Drivers in Skegness will face four weeks of alternating one-way road closures from next week as part of major improvements to Roman Bank.
Work began in September last year to replace the worn out carriageway and footpaths, improve drainage and refurbish a pedestrian crossing.
A 20 metre section of Roman Bank between Algitha Road and the A52 gyratory will be reconstructed starting on Monday, March 8. This is in addition to continuing to rebuild Roman Bank up to its junction with North Shore Road.
As part of the works, alternating one-way closures will be in place for four weeks, starting with the northbound A52 then changing to the southbound, subject to weather conditions.
The diversion route for these will be via Lincoln Road/A158 Burgh Road, and vice versa.
It is hoped that Roman Bank will be fully reopen again by around Easter, subject to weather conditions.
Karen Cassar, Assistant Director of Highways, said: “This additional set of work will see a more southern section of Roman Bank, near the A52 gyratory, fully reconstructed.
“Meanwhile, works to rebuild Roman Bank between Burgh Road and its junction with North Shore Road will continue on throughout March as planned.”
Police have yet to charge anyone over a month after the tragic death of an 11-year-old boy in Lincoln, which remains under investigation.
The 11-year-old boy was found unwell at the scene after police were called to a house on Geneva Street on St Giles in Lincoln at 10pm on Friday, January 22.
He was taken to hospital for treatment, but was pronounced dead a short time later.
A 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder and a 32-year-old woman on suspicion of manslaughter.
At the time, police said the death was unexplained and it was being treated as murder.
Police said on Wednesday that they were continuing their investigation and were not able to release the name of the victim at this stage.
Anyone with information that may help with the investigation should contact Lincolnshire Police on 101 or via email at [email protected] quoting incident 472 of January 22.
North Kesteven District Council has unanimously approved a £4.95 annual council tax increase for 2021/22 – just under 10p a week.
This means residents in a Band D property will pay £174.60 annually for the district council’s precept share, up from £169.65 the previous year.
This 2.92% increase in council tax was given the go ahead in Tuesday evening’s Full Council.
Cllr Richard Wright, Leader of North Kesteven District Council said in the meeting: “The council’s financial plan underpins all that we do as a council and projects a positive yet cautious future.”
He added that the “relatively small” council tax increase “will ensure the council continues to deliver its services and invest in a future that will provide a clean environment, and invest in the economy.”
Cllr Marianne Overton, Leader of North Kesteven Independents, said: “I am delighted to say that all of our requests are included and we are happy to support the budget.”
North Kesteven are expecting to receive approximately £1.5 million in grant support for 2020/21, which will still leave an expected deficit for the council’s general fund for the year of approximately £678,900 (as of December 31, 2020). This is to be financed from the Income Volatility Reserve.