There have been 486 new coronavirus cases and 18 COVID-related deaths in Greater Lincolnshire on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the UK has hit the grim milestone of over 60,000 deaths since the pandemic started, the first European country to do so.

The government's COVID-19 dashboard recorded 351 new cases in Lincolnshire, 71 in North East Lincolnshire and 64 in North Lincolnshire. Just this month (three days), there have been 1,098 cases alone.

Among the districts South Kesteven reported 67 cases, putting it on 2512. There were no deaths.

On Thursday, 14 deaths were registered in Lincolnshire, two in North East Lincolnshire and two in North Lincolnshire. These figures include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county.

NHS England reported eight new local hospital deaths on Thursday, including six at United Lincolnshire Hospital Trust, one at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust and one at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals.

On Thursday, national cases increased by 14,879 to 1,674,134 while deaths rose by 414 to 60,113.

In local news, there has been a sharp rise in coronavirus cases in Greater Lincolnshire, with Boston and Lincoln in the top 10 infection rates in the UK.

United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust is set to be one of the first 50 hospitals where coronavirus vaccinations will be given to patients next week.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed in a Downing Street press conference that Pfizer's approved vaccine is ready for distribution within a matter of days.

The MP for Grantham and Stamford said Lincolnshire should be divided into two lockdown tiers, with the south of the county going into tier, while central and northern areas remain in tier 3.

The UK got an approved vaccine first because it is "a better country", the Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson said today.

However, Dr Anthony Fauci, America's top immunologist, has criticised Britain's approval of Pfizer vaccine, saying: "the UK did not do it as carefully."

Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, the deputy chief medical officer, has urged the UK public to get a coronavirus vaccine when they become widely available if they want normal life to return.

He said "low uptake" of vaccines designed to protect the public will "almost certainly make restrictions last longer". However, the first vaccinations "could cut 99% of deaths".

4,895 in North Lincolnshire (up 64)

167 from North Lincolnshire (up two)

15 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (up one)

248 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (up one)

Across the UK, there have been 1,674,134 UK cases and 60,113 deaths.