The COVID mutation that has taken over most new cases in Lincolnshire is not only more infectious, but may also be more deadly, it has been revealed.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said there is “some evidence” the new variant of COVID-19 which is more transmissible could have a “higher degree of mortality”.
However, he said all current evidence continued to show that vaccines remain effective.
Health bosses in Lincolnshire on Friday estimated 80-90% of new coronavirus cases were the new variant.
Boris Johnson told reporters that there were currently no plans to change lockdown rules saying “this is the right package of measures” and that it was down to people obeying the current lockdown and enforcement.
Mr Johnson was speaking during a press briefing on Friday where health bosses said 1 in 55 people now had coronavirus in England.
There are now more than 38,000 people in hospital nationally – 78% higher than the peak of the first wave.
Mr Johnson said: “We’ve been informed today that in addition to spreading more quickly, it also now appears that there is some evidence that the new variant, first identified in London and the south-east, may be associated with a higher degree of mortality.
“It’s largely the impact of this new variant that means the NHS is under such intense pressure.”
In response to questions over death spikes caused by the new variant he said: “Death numbers will continue to be high for a little while to come.”
Sir Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser, said there was already confidence the new virus spread more easily, but that it was unclear why that was.
He said there was no difference in terms of age range being affected.
Sir Vallance added the outcome for those in hospital with the new variant was the same, however, there was evidence “there’s increased risk for those who have the new variant, compared to the old virus”.
Early evidence suggests the difference shows 13-14 deaths per 1,000 infected as opposed to 10 in 1,000 for the original virus.
However, he added: “That evidence is not yet strong, it’s a series of different bits of information that come together to support that, and I want to put it into context as to what it might mean.
“But I’m stressing that these data are currently uncertain and we don’t have a very good estimate of the precise nature, or indeed, whether it is overall increase.”
He confirmed there was increasing evidence the new variant would be susceptible to the vaccines and studies of the Pfizer Biontech vaccine showed “very good neutralisation”.
“There’s increasing confidence, coupled with I think what is a very important clinical observation, which is that individuals who’ve been infected previously, and have generated antibodies, appear to be equally protected against original virus and new variant,” he added.
England’s Chief medical office Chris Whitty said there had been a “turning the corner” for the number of people catching the virus, adding it was coming down from an “exceptionally” high level.
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People anxiously waiting to watch McFly or Comedy in the Park at Lincolnshire Showground will have to wait until next year, as the shows have been rescheduled due to COVID-19.
The popular British boyband McFly were due to play at Lincolnshire Showground on Friday, July 2, but that show was postponed amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Comedy in the Park, which had such comedians as John Bishop, Rob Beckett and Al Murray taking part, was supposed to happen the day after McFly (Saturday, July 3) at the showground, but was dealt the same fate in being postponed.
Headline act John Bishop, along with Russell Kane, Al Murray, Rob Beckett and other comedians, will perform at Lincolnshire Showground. | Photo: Comedy in the Park
Now, organisers of both events have rescheduled the performances for July 2022, with McFly performing on the 8th and Comedy in the Park taking place on the 9th.
All tickets will remain valid and be automatically transferred to match with the rearranged dates.
A priceless 300-year-old painting from the National Gallery by Dutch artist Jan van Huysum is on display in an unexpected location – at a food bank in Lincoln.
The artwork – Jan van Huysum’s Flowers in a Terracotta Vase (1736-7) – was put on display at The Bridge Community Hub on Newark Road in Lincoln on June 21. It will remain on display until Saturday, June 26 as part of ‘Jan van Huysum Visits’.
The food bank in Lincoln was chosen for its outstanding work in providing essential support and food parcels to families and individuals throughout the coronavirus pandemic. The hub includes a food bank, library services, and a number of other opportunities for community engagement.
Each display in the Jan van Huysum tour explores one of the six ‘Ways to Wellbeing’: Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning, Give, and Care (for the planet). The theme for the Lincoln display is ‘Give’.
Community craft sessions will rerunning concurrently throughout the week for visitors to enjoy.
The Collection Museum in Lincoln has been working with local food banks to distribute creative packs and to engage with the community through arts activities. A specially themed pack will be available both at the Bridge food bank in Lincoln and other food banks in the area.
A literary and poetry resource related to the display has also been created to engage with two primary schools located near the food bank.
The painting will also visit Scotland and Northern Ireland, having already toured Barnsley, Cornwall and Norfolk, propping up in an unusual or unexpected non-museum venue.
Councillor Lindsey Cawrey, executive member for culture at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “Art is such an enabler – for conversations, for inspiration and for learning. Covid has been hard for so many, so I know this pop-up exhibition will go a long way in connecting with new audiences – making a real difference to mental health and wellbeing. I’m delighted we could help make it happen!”
Mike Fowler, Team Leader at Bridge Community Hub, said: “We are delighted to welcome the National Gallery and to be hosting this amazing artwork on behalf of food banks across Lincoln. We can’t wait for our food bank guests to see the painting and for people who love art to maybe see their first food bank up close.”
Almost 70,000 trees could be lost to plans to build 4,000 homes near Grantham, the Woodland Trust has said.
More than 1,600 people have signed a petition by the trust against plans by Homes England and the Defence Infrastructure Organisation to build on the Prince William of Gloucester Barracks site, which will also include eight hectares of “employment use”.
The trees were planted almost a decade ago by school children, local people and soldiers to celebrate the Queen’s 60th Jubilee.
A statement on the trust’s website said: “We are deeply frustrated to see that Homes England’s revised plans have got worse, not better, in terms of woodland impact.
“The most recent masterplan indicates that 80% of the woodland on site would be lost. This equates to just under 60 ha or 67,000 trees.
“Having planted this woodland area with the local community and trust staff, we consider that it is a travesty that we are now facing the prospect of most of these trees being cut down less than a decade after they were planted.”
Homes England’s masterplan for the site.
Homes England said the plans will include a new village hub, with retail, community and commercial facilities, “extensive parkland and woodland areas”, new schools and improved pedestrian and cycling links.
It has acknowledged a “significant number of existing smaller trees within the extensive plantation area on the airfield would need to be removed to accommodate the proposal.”
However, on its website it said: “Where possible, these trees would be incorporated into the new open spaces and we are working with the Woodland Trust to make this a community with woodland and open space at its heart.
An artist’s impression of the site’s open spaces.
“We intend that all homes would be close to areas of woodland and tree planting, including tree lined streets and schools incorporating ‘Forest Schools’ principles.
“Other areas of woodland and biodiverse habitats would be created as part of the development, and these new habitats would be more valuable to native species and would be of benefit to the natural environment.”
A virtual consultation, held due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is due to end on Friday, June 25. People can find out more information and take part here.
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