• A new COVID strain has been found which is more dangerous than any other previous strains

The people of Lincolnshire and the UK are being warned that the COVID pandemic is far from over.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid warned the new variant that has been found in Europe is a serious threat and a huge international concern.

The new variant of coronavirus has been found in Belgium according to the Health Secretary. The country is the first in Europe to announce they have had cases of the new variant.

There have been cases of the new variant in places that include South Africa, Botswana, Hong Kong and Israel, but the Government is concerned with the variant being found on our doorstep.

Belgian Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke said: “We have one case of this variant that is confirmed. It’s someone who came from abroad.”

Mr Javid told the Commons that experience has shown “we must move quickly and at the earliest possible moment”, adding there were concerns the variant may be more transmissible, make vaccines less effective and may affect one of the UK’s Covid treatments, Ronapreve.

He told MPs it was “highly likely” the B.1.1.529 variant had already spread from Africa to other countries.

The Government has quickly reacted by putting South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Namibia on the travel red list. Passengers arriving from these countries from Sunday will need to book a government approved hotel to quarantine for ten days.

If more cases are reported in other countries, then they could also go on the red list Mr Jarvis has warned.

 “We are keeping this under review and there’s very live discussions going on about whether we should and when we might add further countries, and we won’t hesitate to act if we need to do so.”

With the threat of another wave and the new variant, people in Greater Lincolnshire including Boston, Lincoln, Grimsby, Scunthorpe, and Skegness are being advised to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Parents are being advised to take advantage of the New COVID Pop-Up Vaccine Sessions Announced For Lincolnshire. These centres have been made available so they can get their children vaccinated.

Please see the centres here