February 19, 2021 5.04 pm This story is over 37 months old

867 COVID-19 cases, 40 deaths in Lincolnshire so far this week as numbers keep falling

Over 203k vaccinations so far
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

There have been 867 new coronavirus cases in Greater Lincolnshire and 40 COVID-related deaths so far this week — compared to 910 cases and 45 deaths this time last week.

The government’s COVID-19 dashboard on Friday recorded 119 new cases in Lincolnshire, 32 in North East Lincolnshire and 12 in North Lincolnshire.

On Friday, seven 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.

NHS England reported one new local hospital death at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust, bringing the total so far this week to 20, compared to 22 last week.

On Friday, national cases increased by 12,027 to 4,095,269, deaths rose by 533 to 119,920 while COVID first jab numbers hit over 16.8 million.

In local news, Lincolnshire’s vaccination rollout will now move onto the next priority groups after successfully providing over 70s with the COVID-19 vaccine.

Over 203,000 vaccinations have taken place in Lincolnshire between December 8 and February 14, according to the latest NHS England data.

The county’s progress with administering the vaccine has meant that the rollout can now move onto the next priority groups, cohorts five and six.

Local health bosses said Lincolnshire is on a “downward trend” despite a COVID-19 infection rate spike in Boston.

Boston currently has the highest infection rate in the county with 191 per 100,000 people as of Thursday evening — above the England average of 137.8 and ranked 56th nationally.

Up to February 16, Boston have carried out nearly 5,000 rapid COVID tests with 129 positive results in their district.

Greater Lincolnshire’s most recent infection rate data from Friday shows a slight fall overall compared to Wednesday’s figures, with Boston still climbing the UK ranks (37th).

South Holland, North Kesteven and North East Lincolnshire have also seen spikes in the last two days.

However, five of the nine Greater Lincolnshire districts have seen a fall in their rates of infection, mirroring the England average decrease.

Here’s Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rates over the last seven days up to February 19:

Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rates from Feb 8 to Feb 19. | Data: Gov UK / Table: James Mayer for The Lincolnite

In national news, the UK’s coronavirus reproduction number – or R number – now stands at between 0.6 and 0.9, meaning for every 10 people infected, they will pass COVID on to between six and nine others.

This represents a slight fall from last week’s estimate of between 0.7 and 0.9, when it dropped below one for the first time since July.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to spend the weekend finalising his “roadmap” for easing COVID restrictions in England and opening up the economy.

The government is “crunching the numbers” ahead of Monday’s announcement, Foreign Office minister James Cleverly said.

Coronavirus vaccine passports are “feasible” but not until we know more about how long immunity lasts, experts have said.

They have the potential to discriminate against the young, pregnant or those who can’t have the jab for medical reasons – this must be factored into any such scheme before launching, according to a Royal Society report.

Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Friday, February 19

Greater Lincolnshire includes Lincolnshire and the unitary authorities of North and North East (Northern) Lincolnshire.

51,848 cases (up 163)

  • 36,600 in Lincolnshire (up 119)
  • 7,825 in North Lincolnshire (up 12)
  • 7,423 in North East Lincolnshire (up 32)

2,035 deaths (up seven)

  • 1,491 from Lincolnshire (up seven)
  • 297 from North Lincolnshire (no change)
  • 247 from North East Lincolnshire (no change)

of which 1,199 hospital deaths (up one)

  • 743 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (no change)
  • 41 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)
  • 1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
  • 414 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (up one)

4,095,269 UK cases, 119,920 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.