Surge of coronavirus rates as third wave hits North Lincolnshire

Cases have gone from almost zero to dozens in most neighbourhoods, with rates rising to more than 400 per 100,000 residents in the worst-affected areas.

It's been fuelled by the Delta variant – that has swept over Scunthorpe and North Lincolnshire.

At the start of the summer, most areas were reporting almost no cases.

Most neighbourhoods now have 200 to 399 cases per 100,000 people or 400 to 799 cases per 100,000.

The rise came at a time when social distancing measures were being relaxed and people congregated for major sporting events like Euro 2020.

One of the first areas to see an outbreak was Winteringham & Winterton, where an academy sent all students home after nearly half were told to self-isolate.

The case rate is now 339 per 100,000, with cases continuing to rise week on week.

The number of coronavirus patients that the local hospital trust is treating is also in the increase.

As of Monday morning, there were 10 patients at Scunthorpe (with one in ICU) and 22 patients at Grimsby (with two in ICU).

It comes as the government has got rid of nearly all lockdown rules today – however, schools and venues may continue to enforce them.

Around 100 new cases are being reported daily in North Lincolnshire.

However, it remains lower than most of the surrounding local authorities, particuarly North East Lincolnshire where nearly in one in every 100 people have tested positive.