Omicron brings back masks as 4,816 COVID cases confirmed in Greater Lincolnshire

There were 4,816 cases of coronavirus in Greater Lincolnshire last week as the government brings back restrictions in the face of the Omicron variant.

The latest weekly figure is 2.33% down on the 4,931 cases at the same point last week.

Government data shows 18 deaths of Greater Lincolnshire residents so far this week, compared to 22 last week. Meanwhile hospital data has reported 13 deaths – one down on last week.

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 the emergence of UK cases of the Omicron COVID variant, with around nine confirmed so far.

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.

Anyone 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.

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.

Later today, experts on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) are expected to make a decision on whether to offer booster jabs to all over-18s and cut the gap before a third dose as early as today, according to Whitehall sources.

The group is also considering whether second doses should be offered to 12 to 15-year-olds, who currently are only entitled to one.

JCVI deputy chairman Professor Anthony Harnden said extending the age range for boosters and reducing the gap between second and third doses was “a sensible strategy”.

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.

The situation in Lincolnshire

Greater Lincolnshire’s average infection rate up to Sunday, November 28, saw a drop since last Tuesday, going from 460.2 per 100,000 population to 427.

The region now sits below England’s average for the first time since the beginning of September, with the national figure increasing from 421 to 437.8.

Most local tier councils have moved down the national rankings with top of the chart South Kesteven District Council going from 67th highest rate to 76th – despite an increase in infection rate from 547.4 to 553.7.

It is one of just two authorities to see an increase, with Boston whose infection rate rose from 389.6 to 423.5, the only local authority to rise up the national rankings from 260th to 222nd.

SKDC is also currently the only Greater Lincolnshire authority to sit within the top 100, with the North and North East Lincolnshire regions dropping to 241st and 106th respectively.

In Lincolnshire itself, the highest infected age group is the 10 to 14-year-olds with a rolling rate of 1,202.3. It is followed by the five to nines (964) and the 40 to 44s (657.8).

NHS vaccination data released on Thursday revealed 1,346,318 doses COVID jabs had now been handed out in Lincolnshire.

Of those, 552,648 were second jabs – around 87% of the total 634,453 population of Lincolnshire.

The data added 200,853 new doses to the statistics due to 195,225 booster jabs being included (local bosses confirmed the figure was at 211,417 following the data release).

The remaining 5,628 doses given out in the previous week was nearly 48% doses more than the previous week’s 3,807.

Some 569,334 people over the age of 18, and 28,542 under 18s had received their first dose. Figures also showed that 17,170 first doses had been given to 12 to 15-year-olds in Lincolnshire – 51.9% of the eligible population.

A total of 550,178 over 18s and 2,470 under 18s have been double-dosed.

In North East Lincolnshire a total of 257,296 doses of the vaccine have been administered, with 106,400 second doses and 34,708 booster jabs. 38.4% of 12 to 15-year-olds have been given at least one dose.

In North Lincolnshire, 294,931 doses have been handed out, with 118,782 being double-jabbed and 46,284 having a booster shot. 47.7% of the eligible 12 to 15-year-old population have been administered at least one shot.