Indian variant of coronavirus detected in North Lincolnshire
The new strain could potentially delay further lockdown easing across the country
12:29, 19 MAY 2021
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The Indian variant of coronavirus has been recorded in North Lincolnshire for the first time.
The new strain has started to spread dramatically in some areas including Bolton and Nottingham, where surge testing is being brought in to control it.
The sudden spike has raised fears that the full lifting of lockdown restrictions may not go ahead on June 21 as planned.
Cases have now been recorded in North Lincolnshire, data from the Wellcome Sanger Institute shows, although only in small numbers.
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One man getting his jab at Lincolnshire Showground. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The mass COVID-19 vaccination centre at Lincolnshire Showground hit a huge milestone recently, having reached an incredible 50,000 vaccinations so far.
The showground has been used as a COVID-19 testing site since April 2020, and also a vaccination centre since January 2021.
It is one of two mass vaccination centres in Lincolnshire, along with the Princess Royal Sports Arena in Boston, helping the county to have the third highest vaccine rate in England.
The vaccine rollout has gone from strength to strength across the county, and as a result the Lincolnshire Showground staff recently celebrated their 50,000th vaccination.