Lincolnshire Resilience Forum bosses are back in action as 43 cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Greater Lincolnshire on Tuesday.

South Kesteven reported eight fresh cases today, far more than usual.

The forum stepped down from leading on the local pandemic response during the summer when numbers began decreasing.

However, Deputy Chief Constable Jason Harwin told a meeting of the Lincolnshire Health and Wellbeing Board on Tuesday: "As a result of the changing numbers the Local Resilience Forum has come back into a response mode.

"It's important for us, not just about responding, but it's about looking at our preventative, proactive work that we can do. Not just the messaging but also looking at some of our locations where we are likely to see increases or are seeing increases in outbreaks."

He said the group was working with public health teams and the universities to figure out how things would work if there was an outbreak.

DCC Harwin added there would be "wider implications for the for the county, particularly for the city," if there was a local lockdown.

"We'll be having that conversation about not just waiting for a lockdown, but being prepared for it and again recognising our county is very diverse.

"We need to make sure that we can get communications to the right communities at the right level, at the right time as well."

Infection rates have doubled in some areas around Greater Lincolnshire in the past week — but local health bosses say the county is unlikely to see any local lockdowns before wider national restrictions are brought in.

Meanwhile, government chiefs announced new measures and guidance for university students.

On Tuesday, government data showed cases of COVID-19 in Lincolnshire increased by 22, with 17 new cases in North Lincolnshire, and four in North East Lincolnshire.

4,527 cases (up 43)

3,249 in Lincolnshire (up 22)

332 in North East Lincolnshire (up 4)

Lincolnshire's 3,249 is equivalent to a rate of 426.8 cases per 100,000 of population.

This compares with an England average rate of 679.9 cases per 100,000, based on its 382,686 case total.

Leicester is on 6993 (up 65 today), with a rate of 1974.2. This is almost five times the Lincolnshire rate and more than five times the South Kesteven rate and almost six times the Rutland rate.

Leicestershire is on 4674 (up 45), with a rate of 661.9.

Melton is up 2 at 259 (505.8).

Peterborough is up 12 at 1823 (901.3).

Rutland is up 3 to 139 (348.1 per 100,000).

South Holland is up 2 to 751 (790.4).

South Kesteven is up 8 today to 557 (391.1).

Greater Lincolnshire also reports 394 deaths (up 1)

270 from Lincolnshire (up 1)

35 from North East Lincolnshire (no change)

of which 271 hospital deaths (no change)

146 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (no change)

1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)