This weekend saw 1,538 new cases of coronavirus in Lincolnshire, but no COVID-related deaths were reported, as the majority of the England’s coronavirus restrictions came to an end on Monday.
July 19 marks the end of limits on how many people can meet or attend events, with the legal requirement to wear face coverings removed — although they are still recommended in crowded indoor spaces.
Nightclubs were also able to reopen at midnight and table service will no longer be necessary in pubs and restaurants.
The government’s COVID-19 dashboard over the weekend reported 833 new cases in Lincolnshire, 487 in North East Lincolnshire and 218 in North Lincolnshire.
It means there were 4,889 new cases of coronavirus in Greater Lincolnshire last week — a 41% rise on the previous week’s 3,452 cases.
However, no further deaths were recorded over the weekend, leaving last week’s tally at three hospital deaths and four Lincolnshire residents — the first deaths in over a month.
The rules being relaxed today include:
The end of one metre-plus social distancing
No need to to wear masks indoors, in shops and on public transport
The limits on visitors to care homes will be lifted
The legal limits on people meeting indoors and outdoors will be removed
All businesses will be allowed to reopen, including night clubs
The request to work from home where possible will also be scrapped
No COVID certificate will be required to enter any venue or event – though businesses may choose to require some way to show COVID status
Later today, MPs will decide on whether to vaccinate children aged 12-17. Nationally 87.9% of eligible adults have had their first dose of the coronavirus jab, while 68.3% have had their second.
In Lincolnshire, the latest figures show the county has given out more than 992,389 cumulative doses with 86.53% having had their first dose and 70% double-jabbed. Every age group across Greater Lincolnshire, including the 18-24-year-olds, had been at least 60% first-dosed.
Nationally, the weekend saw health secretary Sajid Javid self-isolating after confirming he was positive with COVID-19, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak soon after went into self-isolation – though not without some controversy – after being pinged as close contacts of Mr Javid.
Lincolnshire’s coronavirus cases up to July 18.
Ahead of lockdown, Mr Johnson said he still believed it was the “right moment” to unlock the country.
In a video on Twitter, he said: “If we don’t do it now, we’ve got to ask ourselves, when will we ever do it?” he asked, adding that the virus would have the “advantage of the cold weather” in autumn and winter.
“But we’ve got to do it cautiously. We’ve got to remember that this virus is sadly still out there. Cases are rising, we can see the extreme contagiousness of the Delta variant.”
Like so many people I've been pinged by NHS Test and Trace as I have been in contact with someone with COVID-19, and I will be self-isolating until Monday 26th July. pic.twitter.com/X57gDpwDqe
Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Sunday, July 18
74,096 cases (up 1,538)
48,793 in Lincolnshire (up 833)
11,470 in North Lincolnshire (up 218)
13,833 in North East Lincolnshire (up 487)
2,200 deaths (no change)
1,624 from Lincolnshire (no change)
302 from North Lincolnshire (no change)
274 from North East Lincolnshire (change)
of which 1,317 hospital deaths (no change)
817 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (no change)
43 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)
1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
456 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (no change)
5,433,939 UK cases, 128,708 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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Face coverings will once again be made compulsory in shops and on public transport from Tuesday, November 30 — but pubs and restaurants are exempt for now.
The Prime Minister announced the new, temporary measures to respond to emergence of UK cases of the Omicron COVID variant, with the first two cases in Nottingham and Chelmsford.
The government said the measures are precautionary, and will be reviewed in three weeks. MPs are due to vote on confirming the measures after they come into force.
The other significant change affects international travellers, with everyone entering the UK (other than those coming from the Common Travel Area that covers the Channel Islands and Ireland) will have to take a PCR test by the end of the second day after their arrival and self-isolate until they receive a negative result.
Travel restrictions have already been implemented to slow the spread of the variant. From Sunday, November 28, South Africa, Botswana, Lesostho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Namibi, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, and Angola were added to the UK’s travel red list.
About COVID-19 Omicron
The Omicron variant contains a large number of spike protein mutations as well as mutations in other parts of the viral genome.
Early indications suggest this variant may be more transmissible than the Delta variant and current vaccines may be less effective against it.
A rapid rise in infections in South Africa has been attributed to the spread of this new variant of COVID-19.
Health secretary: “plans as normal for Christmas”
Sajid Javid told Sky News’ Trevor Phillips On Sunday it would be “irresponsible to make guarantees” but the measures announced this week in reaction to the Omicron variant will “buy us time” to enable scientists to assess it.
“People should continue with their plans as normal for Christmas, I think it’s going to be a great Christmas,” he said.
But Mr Javid said the country was “nowhere near” reintroducing measures such as working from home or social distancing, arguing that they carry a “heavy price” economically, socially and in terms of mental health.
He added that he was expecting the government’s vaccines advisers to advise him “imminently” on broadening the booster programme to younger age groups.
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