South Lincolnshire’s COVID-19 infection rates are still some of the highest in the country and the weekend has also seen spikes across Northern Lincolnshire.
Health bosses are putting the consistently high south Lincolnshire infection rates down to the working age population going out to earn money and working in essential food production factories.
Northern Lincolnshire’s two districts have seen spikes over the weekend, with North East Lincolnshire having the highest in Greater Lincolnshire and ranked 10th nationally. North Lincolnshire is in third place in our region.
South Holland and Boston’s infection rates are going down but still remain high in comparison to the England average of 58.7.
North East Lincolnshire has seen a rise in its infection rate in March, which has been put down to “a regular pattern of outbreaks in factories and within the health and social care sector during this period which has hampered progress,” according to its latest epidemiology report.
North Lincolnshire has had a steady infection rate over the last week of around 92 per 100,000 people. However, on Monday, it spiked to 112.
Andy Fox, Lincolnshire County Council’s assistant director for public health, said: “Putting food on people’s plates and the food production industry is vital.
“You need people to be out and about doing it, but you’re going to see higher rates of COVID transmission on the population level in those areas because there’s more people out and about.”
He added: “There’s really no way around that until we start vaccinating people in those age groups, and we still see most cases in the younger working age populations in the 20s and 30s.”
Here’s Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rate up to March 15, which has seen rises in six of the nine districts across the region:
Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rates from Mar 8 to Mar 15. | Data: Gov UK / Table: James Mayer for The Lincolnite
Lincolnshire health bosses are waiting to hear from the Cabinet Office with further plans about targeting the high COVID positivity rate in both districts’ workforces.
Mr Fox said: “We are having those discussions about how we can provide additional support to employers and employees in those areas.”
“On the workforce, I think it will make it slightly harder for us to get infections down particularly, but the numbers that we’ve seen are very low compared to where we were a few months ago, so we’re not in a bad place.”
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A Spalding man who admitted perverting the course of justice and stalking his ex-partner was today (Monday) jailed for four months.
Timothy Hart, 46, of Alexandra Road, was also made the subject of a two year restraining order which prevents him from contacting his former girlfriend.
Lincoln Crown Court heard the offences occurred after the couple’s three and half year relationship came to an end.
Following the end of the relationship Hart’s ex-partner returned home on 16 April to find him lying on the floor next to her bed, the court was told.
Hart was asked to leave but took his ex-partner’s car keys and returned on April 30 when he banged on the front door.
On that occasion Hart’s ex-partner did not answer the door and he was later arrested by police.
Following his release Hart made a number of phone calls to his ex-partner.
During one of the calls Hart’s ex-partner answered and asked him: “I’m not going to get my car keys back?”
Hart replied: “No, not until you drop the charges,” the court was told.
Anna Soubry, mitigating, said Hart knew that he faced a jail sentence.
“It is just a question of length,” Miss Soubry acknowledged.
“The most serious matter is the perverting of public justice.
“He admitted that in interview and has pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.”
Miss Soubry told the court Hart was a hard working mechanic who had the offer of a job once he is released from prison.
She added that Hart also faced the prospect of losing his Spalding home.
Hart admitted an offence of stalking and doing an act intended to pervert the course of public justice between May 5 and May 7 this year.
Passing sentence Judge Simon Hirst told Hart: “Perverting the course of justice is a very serious offence because it strikes at the heart of the justice system.”
Hart was also made the subject of a restraining order for two years.
There is now less than one week to go until the Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay visits Lincoln as part of its final journey through England this summer.
Birmingham 2022 is hosting the 16th official Queen’s Baton Relay – a journey which brings together and celebrates communities across the Commonwealth during the build-up to the Games. In England, the Queen’s Baton Relay will provide the opportunity for communities to experience the excitement for Birmingham 2022, as the 11 days of showstopping sport nears ever closer.
The Queen’s Baton Relay will travel the length and breadth of England for a total of 29 days, before culminating at the Opening Ceremony for Birmingham 2022 on 28 July 2022.
After kicking off on Thursday 2 June, the Baton spent four days in London, coinciding with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Weekend.
The Baton then resumed its international journey and returned to England today (Monday 4 July) to commence a 25-day tour of the regions.
On Sunday 10 July, Lincoln will officially welcome the Baton.
A busy schedule of activities and events are planned for the Queen’s Baton Relay’s visit to the city, with key locations being the International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC), the LNER Stadium, Lincoln Stonebow, Lincoln High Street, Steep Hill and Lincoln Cathedral.
The schedule of activity for the Baton’s time in Lincoln includes:
Approx. 5.13pm*, International Bomber Command Centre – The IBCC is working with Active Lincolnshire to provide a free public event from 3pm – 6pm involving youth groups, encouraging people to sign up, get active, have adventures and make communities.
Approx. 5.34pm*, LNER Stadium – The baton will be taken onto the 3G community pitch at the LNER Stadium where there will be coaching sessions with the local walking football and Down Syndrome Active teams. Spectators can line along the pitch and stadium footprint to view.
Approx. 6.05pm*, Lincoln Stonebow to visit the Right Worshipful, The Mayor of Lincoln, Cllr Rosanne Kirk before relaying up Steep Hill up to Castle Square and then to Lincoln Cathedral, where residents and visitors to the city will gather for an ‘end of day’ celebration.
*Times subject to change.
The ‘end of day’ celebration will take place from 5pm – 6.30pm in Castle Square and will include street theatre performances including stilt walkers waving flags, a punting duo who will serenade crowds and ‘knights on horses’, as well as music from BBC Radio Lincolnshire.
Members of the public are encouraged bring their England flags, get involved with the celebrations and embrace the arrival of the Baton, taking the opportunity to experience the buzz of Birmingham 2022 in their community.
Cllr Bob Bushell, Portfolio Holder for Remarkable Place at City of Lincoln Council said: “We look forward to hosting the Baton in Lincoln as part of the Queen’s Baton Relay on 10 July.
“This is a very exciting opportunity for us to showcase the city and what we have to offer and welcome residents and visitors to enjoy the evening’s celebrations.”
Martin Hickerton, Chief Executive of the Lincoln City Foundation, said: “Everyone at Lincoln City is looking forward to the Queen’s baton visiting us at the LNER Stadium. As a home to both a Football Club and a Sports-based charity, we recognise the power of the Commonwealth games and physical activity, in inspiring people to healthier lifestyles.
“We will have coaching sessions going on at the time, as we do most days, and it’ll be a great treat for all the participants in our walking football and DS Active teams to see the baton in person.”
Nicky van der Drift, Chief Executive of the International Bomber Command Centre, added: “The team at the IBCC are honoured and excited to be hosting the Queen’s Baton Relay.
“Bomber Command’s story is one that encompasses the Commonwealth. 59% of Commonwealth countries are represented on the Walls of Names at the IBCC, which record every life lost in the service of Bomber Command.
“This event, we hope, will inspire a new generation in the core ethos of the Command: service, community, collaboration and solidarity.”
To encourage the public to stay and enjoy the city’s evening economy, all City of Lincoln Council pay and display car parks (all car parks except Lincoln Central) will be free from 4pm until midnight on 10 July.
You must park within this period only to qualify (parking outside of these times will be charged as normal. Long term parking that abridges this period (starts before and/or ends after the period) will not be discounted.
Following its visit to Lincoln on 10 July, the Baton will then visit Skegness, Boston and Grantham on Monday 11 July.
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