Blackburn with Darwen seeks to avoid local lockdown

Blackburn with Darwen Council has announced fresh rules to restrict the spread of coronavirus in what officials described as an urgent effort to avoid a centrally imposed lockdown.

The five measures, specific to Blackburn with Darwen, are aimed at helping avoid a local lockdown by getting a grip on the rise in cases of the virus. This follows news that the region is the fourth worst-affected local authority, with coronavirus cases higher than the national average at around 40 per 100,000.

The borough also has a higher positivity rate, which is currently seven per cent – the rate of confirmed cases per 100,000 as a percentage of all who take a test – where the national average is between two and five per cent.

The measures are: a limit of two people from the same household allowed to visit another household; wearing cloth face coverings in all enclosed public spaces; no physical embracing, such as hugging of handshaking; support for small shops; and more targeted testing.

Dominic Harrison, Blackburn with Darwen’s Director of Public Health, said: “We know that people have been worried by the release of figures that show an increase in coronavirus cases in Blackburn with Darwen, and don’t want a second lockdown to be introduced. The council does not want the borough to be in that position either, which is why we are introducing these new measures to give everyone simple steps they can follow to do their bit to help keep the spread of the virus under control.

“These steps will help and we are appealing to everyone in Blackburn with Darwen to follow them to protect themselves and their loved ones. If we don’t, a local lockdown, like in Leicester, becomes a very real possibility. The council is working with the NHS and the wider community on this – it’s up to us all to help each other stick to the advice that’s been given. We can only avoid further lockdown measures if we work together.

“In the next week to 10 days, we will see a rise in the number of cases in the borough due to the increased targeted testing we are doing in communities most at risk, and because we have opened a Pillar 2 testing site next to the hospital last week. In another two weeks, if the rates are continuing to rise, we will have to consider reversing some of the national lockdown lifting measures locally one by one until we see a reversal in the current rising trend. It’s up to everyone to make sure we don’t have to do that.”