Corona Outbreaks Coming Closer to Home.....

Corona Outbreaks Coming Closer to Home.....

Jul, 14 2020


Have you felt that things are alarmingly reaching closer to home?
 
Blackburn is a town like many others that brings in trade and tourism every day. This results in an increase in people visiting the town on a daily basis. Does this mean therefore that it could attract a rise in corona virus cases?
 
The answer is a simple yes. Over the course of 7 days it was reported a total of 61 cases were discovered. Swift action had to be taken. Mass testing took place at the weekend ( 11th & 12th July )
 
The outcome of these tests mean for the following month, people living within the Lancashire authority must observe the rules in a bid to avoid a Leicester-style local lockdown.
 
As we’ve already been accustomed to, residents in these areas will have to repeat the similar procedure we’ve all grown tired of - tighter limits on visitors from another household, and, by way of greeting bump elbows in place of handshakes and hugs.
 
Residents are politely being asked to wear cloth face covering in the following places:-
  • Workplaces
  •  Libraries
  •  Museums
  •  Health centres 
  •  Hair and beauty salons.

In addition, public protection advice for small shops was being stepped up to ensure social distancing was being observed. Targeted testing is taking place in the borough and a word of warning is addressed to blasé individuals:-you don’t need to have symptoms to be tested. 

Blackburn with Darwen's public health director, Professor  Dominic Harrison  gives a firm yet direct message for the Lancashire region,
 
"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."
 
Let us consider some important statistics:-
  • Figures show Blackburn with Darwen now has 41 new cases per 100,000, up from 29.5.
  • Leicester, where a local lockdown has been imposed, has seen the rate fall from 156.8 in the seven days to 26 June, to 114.3 in the seven days to 10 July. 
  • The second highest rate is in Pendle, Lancashire, where the rate has gone up from 14.2 to 67.8. 
The former mill town has produced a series of informative videos in three languages:- English, Urdu and Gujarti. This will keep the community up to date with the incline or decline of the virus and the necessary steps to keep everybody safe. 
 
Council leader Mohammed Khan warned locals about returning to their  previous lives and how we can all unite if we obey the governments advice, 
 
"Life cannot go back to normal just yet, and we must all make sacrifices to avoid a local lockdown. We are doing everything we can to get a grip on the virus, and we need everyone in Blackburn with Darwen to pull together to help us. Please continue to do your bit to stick to the rules to protect yourself and your family." 
 
New measures to curb the spread of Covid-19 in Blackburn with Darwen have been introduced after a spike in cases. 
 
^Alex Ashworth CCG UK Blogger