More tragic losses as nation marked first year of pandemic
ON the day the nation marked the first year of the coronavirus pandemic there were two more local deaths reported by hospital chiefs.
There are signs infection cases are declining in northern Lincolnshire, with new cases less than they were a week ago.. The Trust which runs hospitals in the region said there were 25 patients being treated for the virus in hospital with 11 at Grimsby and 14 at Scunthorpe. Of these, two are in ICU – one at Grimsby and one at Scunthorpe. The two latest deaths in the hospitals happened on Sunday and Monday. The number of new cases reported were 17 in North East Lincolnshire bringing the borough’s total to 8,297.
But North Lincolnshire had over double that with 35 new cases reported in the previous 24 hours. That brings the total since the pandemic began a year ago to 8,760. In East Lindsey there were 12 new cases reported taking the total for the district which stretches from Holton-leClay and Tetney and Louth to Skegness, to 6,210.
The nation stood in silence to observe a moment to reflect on the tragic loss to thousands of families caused by the virus. The Queen sent a message and flowers to staff at St Bartholemew’s Hospital in London where the Duke of Edinburgh was cared for.
She said: “As we look forward to a brighter future together, today we pause to reflect on the grief and loss that continues to be felt by so many people and families, and pay tribute to the immeasurable service of those who have supported us all over the last year.” Addressing the nation on the first anniversary of the lockdown, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that “at the right moment” a permanent memorial to those who died from coronavirus will be built and the “whole period” will be commemorated. He told the Downing Street press conference: “At the right moment, we will come together as a country to build a fitting and a permanent memorial to the loved ones we’ve lost and to commemorate this whole period. “For month after month, our collective fight against coronavirus was like fighting in the dark against a callous and invisible enemy until science helped us to turn the lights on and gain the upper hand.” Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the nation is “step by step, jab by jab” on the path to “reclaiming our freedoms”.He warned of the dangers of a third wave of the virus heading to the UK. “We are seeing distinct signs of a third wave on the continent,” he said.