2020: How Lincolnshire coped with COVID
A rollercoaster year moving at high speed
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
2020 has been a tumultuous year. What we expected to be another 12 months of droning on about Brexit turned out to be much worse.
When leavers celebrated Brexit Day in Lincolnshire on January 31, all we knew about COVID-19 was a brief offer of support and guidance from the University of Lincoln to students and staff with connections to China and Wuhan, where the virus is believed to have originated.
But by the end of February warnings were on the increase, a Skegness GP closed its doors temporarily due to fears patients had been infected, Lincoln Cathedral was giving advice on the virus, new “coronavirus pods” were set up at hospitals to deal with travellers returning from China who felt unwell, schools had closed as tests began and five local pupils had been isolated following a ski trip to Italy one of the countries the virus rapidly spread to.
The Lincolnite Person of the Year: Jonathan Van Tam
A “Van-tastic” achievement
Professor Jonathan Van-Tam has a gift of using metaphors to explain various situations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Boston-born Jonathan Van Tam, England’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer, has become known for his colourful metaphors and straight forward nature when delivering the latest news about the coronavirus pandemic.
From late-minute equaliser goals, to waiting for a train and how coronavirus is not like a yoghurt, he has brought us the details in easy to understand and rarely convoluted messages.
He once said while answering public questions during a BBC interview: “It’s clear in the first half, the away team gave us an absolute battering, and what we’ve done now is the 70th minute, they got a goal, and in the 70th minute we’ve now got an equaliser.
More than 14,000 sign up for Universal Credit during coronavirus pandemic
More than 14,000 people in Lincolnshire impacted by the coronavirus crisis have claimed for Universal Credit since the pandemic began.
The latest job centre figures have been released by the Department for Work and Pensions and show how COVID-19 has seen a big increase on the number of claimants.
Universal Credit covers six major benefits and the figures cover those both in and out of work, including self-employed and those who have been furloughed.
Employment advisor at Boston Job Centre Stuart Roberts said support was out there for people who were going through difficult times including help with claims, looking for extra work or even extra training.
More than £80m handed to local businesses during coronavirus pandemic
Photo: stock
More than £80 million has been given to nearly 6,800 businesses across Lincolnshire to help support the local economy against the impact of the coronavirus lockdown.
Lincolnshire’s district councils have been given £192,109,000 by government to support local businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The money was part of a swathe of measures announced by government covering loans, small business grants and grants covering the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors.
Today, authorities revealed they had given at least £79,370,000 to 6,768 businesses.
South Holland had not responded at time of publication but had issued £2,460,000 to 231 businesses on April 3.
All Lincolnshire MPs vote for second COVID lockdown
One spoke against but then backed down
| Photo: Adobe Stock
MPs have backed a second four-week lockdown in England which it is hoped will “contain a surge” in COVID cases and protect the NHS in the run-up to winter.
A total of 516 MPs voted for the latest measures with 38 marked up in opposition.
All of Greater Lincolnshire’s Conservative MPs voted in favour of the lockdown, with Lincoln MP Karl McCartney voting by proxy through Pudsey MP Stuart Andrew.
Gainsborough’s MP Sir Edward Leigh was the only Greater Lincolnshire MP to speak in the three hour debate.