Borough’s Covid rate fall lagging behind nation

NORTH East Lincolnshire is one of only 26 places in England with a Covid-19 infection rate above 100.

The region recorded a rolling rate of 102.2 on March 8, compared to the UK average at 65.1.

North Lincolnshire is continuing its steady drop in cases, with its rolling rate now at 92.9. However, both regions remain above the national average, with similar rates to Leeds, Stoke-on-Trent, Nottingham and Leicestershire.

Hull has the second highest Covid-19 infection rate for in England at 155.9, coming only after Barnsley with 156.4.

It comes after the UK recorded another 4,712 coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, with 55 of those in northern Lincolnshire. This breaks down to 20 in North East Lincolnshire and 35 in North Lincolnshire. It brings North East Lincolnshire’s total to 7,887 and 8,225 in North Lincolnshire. The UK recorded 65 deaths on March 8, its lowest daily increase in coronavirus-related deaths in five months.

Sadly, one of those happened at a hospital under the Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust.

The death happened on March 5 – but has only just been reported by NHS England due to delays.

It bring the region’s total number of Covid-19 hospital deaths since the pandemic began in March last year to 431.

As of March 8, there were 52 patients in the region’s hospitals – 21 at Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital and 31 at Scunthorpe General Hospital. Of those, two were in ICU – one at Grimsby and one at Scunthorpe. The latest data comes as Boris Johnson revealed more than a third of the UK population have now received a coronavirus vaccine, reports The Mirror. Speaking at a 4pm press conference, the Prime Minister said that thanks to the “huge national effort to keep kids at home” the spread of coronavirus has been reduced significantly.

But he warned the number of patients being admitted to hospital with Covid-19 each day is eight times higher than “the lows of last summer”.

Children returned to classrooms across the UK yesterday under the first stage of the relaxation of lockdown.

In the national lockdown, only vulnerable or key workers’ children could attend school in person with the rest learning at home.

Mr Johnson added: “We’ve been able to take that crucial first step on what we hope is our cautious but irreversible road map to freedom.”

Secondary schools have been told they can phase the return of pupils over this week, with heads told to prioritise getting Years 10 and 13 back into the classroom first. Recreation in a public space – such as a park – is now allowed between two people as rules have been relaxed, meaning friends are allowed to sit down for a coffee, drink or picnic.

If the data allows it, further restrictions will be lifted on March 29 as the second stage of part one of lifting England’s lockdown.