Lincolnshire remembers the year of coronavirus
A national coronavirus lockdown was called for the first time a year ago today, and Lincolnshire will reflect on the past year with tributes to those who lost their lives to COVID-19.
Tuesday, March 23 marks one year to the day that Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the nation to confirm we would go into a national lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.
So far in Lincolnshire there have been 39,645 cumulative cases of the virus, and 1,586 deaths.
These numbers have been falling however, mainly thanks to the speed of the vaccination programme, which has now seen more than 461,237 jabs in Greater Lincolnshire; equating to more than half the eligible population.
Read: One year of lockdown in Lincolnshire – in numbers
To honour and remember those who have died of COVID-19, the UK observed a minute’s silence at 12pm, and councils across Lincolnshire have committed to getting involved.
As well as this, people are being encouraged to stand on doorsteps holding a candle or torch at 8pm, and major landmarks will light up yellow.
The national day of reflection has been organised by Marie Curie, and the yellow colours of the end of life charity will beam across some of the UK’s most notable buildings, including Lincoln Cathedral.
As well as this, Church Square House in Scunthorpe and Westgate Water Tower in Lincoln will light up yellow, and Co-op stores across Lincolnshire will be offering daffodils to its customers.
HSBC will follow suit, hosting a ‘Yellow Day’ at its branches and encouraging staff to wear daffodils to mark the occasion.
Anglian Water has that the Westgate Water Tower in Lincoln will be illumined in yellow colours at around 6pm this evening.
A spokesperson said: “The impact of the last year really has been detrimental to us all, with the death toll a year after lockdown now reaching over 125,000.
“Dealing with utilities after the loss of a loved one can be overwhelming and stressful, it is one of a long list of things that need to be dealt with after someone has died.
“Anglian Water are working in partnership with the UK’s leading end of life and bereavement charity, Marie Curie, to help better support those who are most in need.
Lincoln Cathedral will also hold a special Choral Evensong at 5.30pm, including prayers that mark the anniversary of lockdown, all live-streamed from the cathedral’s Facebook page.
The Revd Canon Nick Brown, Precentor of Lincoln, said: “Since the beginning of the first lockdown hundreds of thousands of people have died, with many more left bereaved.
“With the restrictions in place many people have not been able to grieve as they usually would, or to offer support to others in person.
“The burden has, at times, been hard to bear. Yet, throughout this we have seen many demonstrations of kindness, compassion and care.”
For more information on the National Day of Reflection, visit the Marie Curie website and find out how you can get involved.
A dramatic video shows a car engulfed in flames in the car park at Lincoln County Hospital on Tuesday afternoon.
An on-call crew from Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue attended the scene on Greetwell Road shortly before 5pm on Tuesday, April 13.
The crew used one hose reel to extinguish the fire and fortunately no casualties were reported.
The car is probably a write-off. | Photo: The Lincolnite
Dramatic pictures from the scene show the severe damage that was caused to the front of the car.
Fall in county infections but a Boston spike
There have been 50 new coronavirus cases and three COVID-related deaths in Greater Lincolnshire on Tuesday — compared to 58 cases and no deaths this time last week.
The government’s COVID-19 dashboard recorded 26 new cases in Lincolnshire, 19 in North Lincolnshire and five in North East Lincolnshire.
On Tuesday, three deaths were registered in Lincolnshire, none in North East Lincolnshire and -1 in North Lincolnshire. Fluctuations in data are usually due to some deaths in those areas being reallocated to other regions across the UK or a miscount. These figures include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county.
NHS England has reported two new local hospital deaths at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust hospitals.
On Tuesday, national cases increased by 2,472 to 4,375,814, while deaths rose by 23 to 127,123.
In local news, people aged over 45 can now book their COVID vaccinations on the NHS website after the government reached its target of offering a first dose to the nine most vulnerable groups.
There were recently some technical difficulties for people accessing the NHS website, but vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said the issues have been fixed – book a vaccine online here and find out if you are eligible.
Over the weekend, Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rate has fallen, with a spike in Boston only.
Similarly, the England average has also seen a drop in infections, but still remains nearly half Greater Lincolnshire’s rates.
Lincoln has dropped by more than half over the weekend and now has one of the smallest rates in the UK, with just 9.1 per 100,000 of the population infected with COVID-19.
Here’s Greater Lincolnshire’s COVID-19 infection rates up to April 12:
Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rates from Apr 5 to Apr 12. | Data: Gov UK / Table: James Mayer for The Lincolnite
In national news, Boris Johnson has warned that the reduction in coronavirus infections, hospitalisations and deaths “has not been achieved” by the rollout of COVID vaccines.
The prime minister, speaking the day after the latest easing of lockdown restrictions, instead said it was the national shutdown that had been “overwhelmingly important” in driving down COVID rates.
England is giving out its first doses of the Moderna jab, the third COVID-19 vaccine in the nation’s rollout.
It will be available at 21 sites, included the Madejski Stadium in Reading and the Sheffield Arena.
Along with the Pfizer jab, it offers an alternative to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine for under-30s, after concerns about a possible link to very rare blood clots.
Greater Lincolnshire includes Lincolnshire and the unitary authorities of North and North East (Northern) Lincolnshire.
58,772 cases (up 50)
2,184 deaths (up three)
of which 1,302 hospital deaths (up two)
4,375,814 UK cases, 127,123 deaths
There will be another Kill The Bill protest in Lincoln next week, rallying against a new government bill that diminishes protesting rights.
Protests have been rife across the country since the government’s proposed Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill was first discussed, with scenes turning violent in Bristol.
Over two hundred people peacefully took part in the city’s first march at Speakers’ Corner on April 3, including Extinction Rebellion activists and Socialist and Labour supporters.
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Now, after a post started doing the rounds on social media, another protest has apparently been scheduled for 2pm on Monday, April 17 at the same location on Lincoln High Street, as part of a national day of action.
A poster promoting a second event has been shared across social media platforms.
Protests are lawful once again after the government eased lockdown restrictions on March 29, but organisers are required to submit a risk assessment prior to any event.
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Organisers of the last protest were in close communication with police to make the event safe, and The Lincolnite has asked Lincolnshire Police if they have been made aware of another protest, but are yet to receive a reply.
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