South Holland COVID-19 figures 'going in the right direction'
Cases of COVID-19 across South Holland appear to be declining, despite confusion over the accuracy of figures available to the public.
According to Lincolnshire health leaders, 165 positive cases were reported in South Holland over the seven days up to November 16.
Meanwhile, a measure of how far infections are spreading over the same period showed an infection rate per 100,000 population of 150.5.
In comparison, figures from Public Health England (PHE) and the NHS, published on the Government's Coronavirus in the UK website, showed 230 positive cases in South Holland over the seven days up to November 12.
As a result, the spread of infection per 100,000 population up to a week ago was 242.1, a difference between LCC's figures of nearly 38 per cent.
Coun Gary Porter, leader of South Holland District Council, said: "There's a time lag with all the figures and I can more or less guarantee that what you get on one day will be different the next day.
"But the figures are probably slightly lower now than they were when the national lockdown started and they're going in the right direction.
"We're either the lowest or second lowest in the county for infections, but we still have far too many cases and I'm slightly worried about the move southwards, with high numbers of infections from North and North East Lincolnshire spilling into East Lindsey and Boston.
"So it looks like there's a southwards direction of travel in the county, as regards infections, and the next week or two will be critical for how we'll look before lockdown ends."
It comes as three schools in the area, Spalding Grammar School, Spalding High School and University Academy Long Sutton (UALS), reported that students had tested positive this week.
Confirmation that four Year 11 students at Spalding High School had returned positive tests, resulting in the whole year group being told to self-isolate, came at the weekend.
On Monday, Year 8 and 10 students at UALS were sent home after one student in each year group tested positive.
Executive principal Steve Baragwanath said: "Working together with the local health protection team, and following government guidance, the decision was taken to send Year 8 and Year 10 pupils home for a period of isolation."
Spalding Grammar School confirmed that six of its students had tested positive since the start of term in September.
But deputy head teacher Suzanne Ingram said: "The robustness of our arrangements in school means that we do not have to send whole year groups home at once, minimising disruption to the education of our students."
Tony McGinty, assistant director for public health at Lincolnshire County Council, said: "We are seeing a rise in cases among the older population and are working with our partners to support and protect our most vulnerable residents from becoming infected."