Professional car repairs firm expands with new Lincoln centre

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.

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Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Tuesday, April 13

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

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.

What’s in the new policing bill?

Local independents have suffered greatly as a result of the coronavirus lockdown, but the time has finally come for the doors to be reopened, and shop owners are delighted to be back.

Non-essential retail was allowed to reopen on Monday, April 12 as part of the latest stage of the government’s roadmap out of coronavirus lockdown.

After chaos with queues in the city centre, The Lincolnite went uphill in Lincoln to talk to some local independents on Steep Hill and the Bailgate to see how the reopening has gone.

Laura Scaife had only opened Fairy Godmother’s Beauty Room for a month before we went into national lockdown. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Perhaps the most relieved person in Lincoln was Laura Scaife, owner of Fairy Godmother’s Beauty Room on Steep Hill, which only opened last February, right before the pandemic hit Britain.

Laura wasn’t entitled to any furlough pay due to only starting the business very recently, so was eager to get started at work again.

She said: “It’s been a testing year for us, it was rather lonely in lockdown and obviously there’s only so much you can do on social media in an industry like mine.

“My clients have been absolutely amazing and they’ve all been coming back after each lockdown. Hopefully the future is promising for us after a difficult start.”

Sasha Drennan has owned Lindum Books since it opened seven years ago. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

At Lindum Books on the Bailgate, owner of seven years Sasha Drennan said that despite her happiness at reopening, she has faced difficulties when it comes to enforcing COVID-19 restrictions.

“We only opened on Tuesday and already I’ve had to remind people about wearing masks properly, social distancing and using hand sanitiser.

“Some were looking at the sanitiser like they’d never seen it before! I just hope people realise we are still in the midst of a pandemic, otherwise we could be in danger of going back to how we were.

“Despite this, I am obviously very happy to be back inside the shop and it’s great seeing people walking on the Bailgate again.”

Caroline Bundy has worked at Linkage for around six months. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

One shop that needed the reopening more than most was Linkage on the Bailgate, a Lincolnshire based charity offering support for people with learning difficulties.

Caroline Bundy, who works at the Linkage store, said that the charity had been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, due to stores being a great way to raise money.

After what was described as a “steady first day”, Caroline told The Lincolnite: “We’re excited to be back, hopefully the good weather will encourage people to get out shopping on the Bailgate and support local independents.”

Craig Burrows is the manager of Steep Hill Wines, offering a range of alcoholic drinks. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Steep Hill Wines have had to adapt, like so many others, due to lockdown closing the store, and their move online has proven to be a big hit.

Manager Craig Burrows has said that face-to-face contact is so important to the success of the store, and human interaction is the thing he has missed most.

“We are here to help people on the start of their wine journey, who might need a bit of direction as to what to try and what they may like.

“There’s no substitute for talking with people face-to-face, and that’s what we can now look to offer to all our customers.”

Craig also spoke about the community spirit of local independents, as everyone would lend a hand to one another during the difficult stages of lockdown.

He said: “Businesses would offer their services to one another during lockdown to help us all get through it, the importance of local independents cannot be understated.

“We must protect these local shops and not let them be replaced by big chains, it is part of what makes uphill Lincoln, particularly the Bailgate and Steep Hill, so unique and special.”

Elsewhere on Steep Hill, Imperial Teas of Lincoln celebrated reopening with a special anniversary, marking 30 years as a local business in the city.