There has been a 40% decrease in COVID-19 cases so far this week, but one extra COVID-related death in Greater Lincolnshire compared to this time last week.
The latest figures show there have been 144 coronavirus cases so far this week and one death — compared to 238 cases and no deaths last week, however, a government data change on Tuesday meant 85 cases were removed from Greater Lincolnshire’s total.
The government’s COVID-19 dashboard on Friday recorded 28 new cases in Lincolnshire, 17 in North Lincolnshire and -1 in North East Lincolnshire, as data can fluctuate due to a wrong diagnosis.
NHS England has reported two local hospital deaths in United Lincolnshire Hospital Trust so far this week, up from none last week.
On Friday, national cases increased by 2,829 to 4,457,923, while deaths rose by nine to 127,710.
In local news, there is still a low occurrence of the India COVID mutation in Lincolnshire, with just 3% of cases containing variants of concern.
These include the Indian variant as well as the South African and Brazilian mutations, which are thought to be more contagious than the original strain, and can therefore spread faster in the population.
Greater Lincolnshire has seen further falls in its infection rate since Wednesday, mirroring the rate fall in England.
Boston, East Lindsey and South Kesteven are the only districts to have seen spikes, with North Lincolnshire remaining at its Wednesday level.
North Kesteven has halved its infection rate since Wednesday, with it now having just six per 100,000 of the population.
Here’s Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rate up to May 21:
Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rates from May 16 to May 21. | Data: Gov UK / Table: James Mayer for The Lincolnite
In national news, England’s R number range has increased slightly from between 0.8-1.1 to between 0.9-1.1, the latest figures show, meaning for every 10 people infected, they will pass coronavirus onto between nine and 11 others.
The nationwide growth rate is estimated to be between -2% and +1 – a small increase on last week’s -3% to 1%.
Just 15 people tested positive for coronavirus among nearly 60,000 who attended trials of mass gatherings including the FA Cup final and the Brit Awards, official figures show.
Nine large-scale events were staged as part of the government’s plan to allow for the return of big crowds this summer.
Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Friday, May 21
Greater Lincolnshire includes Lincolnshire and the unitary authorities of North and North East (Northern) Lincolnshire.
60,363 cases (up 45)
41,914 in Lincolnshire (up 28)
9,718 in North Lincolnshire (up 17)
8,731 in North East Lincolnshire (down one)
2,193 deaths (no change)
1,618 from Lincolnshire (no change)
307 from North Lincolnshire (no change)
268 from North East Lincolnshire (no change)
of which 1,307 hospital deaths (no change)
814 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (no change)
41 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)
1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
451 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (no change)
4,457,923 UK cases, 127,710 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.
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The Game, an icon in the 21st century rap music business, will be bringing his array of hits to Lincoln Engine Shed for his first UK shows in over five years this December.
Jayceon Terrell Taylor is better known as The Game, and the 42-year-old Compton-born rapper soared to fame in the early 2000s as an up-and-coming star on Dr Dre’s Aftermath Records label – selling millions of album copies throughout his illustrious career.
His debut album The Documentary boasted some of hip-hop’s biggest ever hits, including How We Do and Hate It Or Love It featuring fellow rap icon 50 Cent.
His lyrical soul-searching through tough upbringings has made him a favourite in the genre, and he is still going strong to this day – announcing a tour of the UK and Ireland to accompany his new album Drillmatic – Mind vs. Heart.
The tour will be The Game’s first in the United Kingdom for over five years, and it will see one of rap music’s most iconic names perform right here in Lincoln on December 5 – as he brings the energy to the Engine Shed.
Tickets will cost £33 and go on sale via the Engine Shed website at 10am on Monday, August 22. Given the subject matter of The Game’s songs, the show is unsurprisingly an over-18s event.
The Grammy winning rapper was part of a major talking point earlier in 2022, when his lead single Eazy contained a candid verse by Kanye West, in which he discussed his public divorce with Kim Kardashian.
His tenth studio album, Drillmatic – Mind vs. Heart, was released on August 12 and contained collaborations from major artists including Drake, Rick Ross, Chris Brown and the aforementioned Kanye West.
A lying lorry driver who smuggled £3 million worth of heroin into the UK was caught out when he put a receipt for a bottle of whisky next to his hidden load of the Class A drug.
Lithuanian national Edmundas Bruzas, 56, of Arklow, County Wicklow in Ireland, has been jailed for over 12 years.
He said he knew nothing about the 60 tape-wrapped blocks of heroin in his cab when questioned by Border Force officers at the Port of Immingham on March 25, 2022, having arrived from Rotterdam.
Bruzas said he was carrying a load of strawberries for delivery to Ireland but that he was not present when the cargo was loaded.
He declared 200 cigarettes and a bottle of Grant’s Triple Wood Whisky he bought on an outbound ferry before collecting the strawberries.
Searching the heavy goods vehicle, Border Force officers noticed something wrong with part of the refrigeration unit and discovered the blocks of heroin weighing 30 kilos and next to them seven carrier bags in a concealed area.
Border Force referred the find to the National Crime Agency and an investigation was launched.
The heroin laid out. | Photo: National Crime Agency
In custody, Bruzas said he knew nothing about the drugs and answered questions in two separate interviews.
He admitted buying the alcohol and said he didn’t know what he’d done with the receipt. But when it was put to him that officers had found the receipt – showing his credit card details – for the whisky in a carrier bag next to the heroin he refused to answer any more questions.
Officers also discovered three mobile phones, a SIM card and a post-it note bearing the question: “Are Customs doing a check on you?”
Today (August 15), at Grimsby Crown Court Bruzas admitted smuggling the heroin and was sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison.
Drugs concealment. | Photo: National Crime Agency
NCA operations manager Carl Barrass said: “It was impossible for Bruzas not to know his cab had heroin in it. And when he realised we’d found his credit card receipt next to the drugs he had no option but to admit his guilt.
“Bruzas’s conviction removes a drugs smuggler from an organised crime group which has also lost a significant amount of money that would have been ploughed back into further offending.
“With partners such as Border Force and UK policing, the NCA leads the UK’s fight against Class A drugs which cause huge damage to our communities.”
Murdo Macmillan, Director of Border Force North, said: “These drugs destined for the UK would have fuelled addiction, violence and exploitation.
“This seizure and others like it, send a clear message to anyone who is considering smuggling illegal drugs into the country that we remain committed and prepared to tackle drug supply chains.
“The tireless professional efforts of Border Force officers prevent criminals like Edmundas Bruzas from smuggling drugs through the border. With our close working relationship with the NCA, we continue to detect and break supply chains.”
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