Covid rate ‘levelling off’ as vaccination hub opens its doors
LAN CASHIRE recorded its lowest daily Coronavirus case toll rise so far this month as numbers fell across 11 out of 14 boroughs, including Hyndburn.
The number of infections across the borough rose by 59, out of a total of 795 people in the county to contract the virus in the latest 24-hour period, according to new Public Health England data released on Tuesday evening, January 19.
It brought the total number since the start of the pandemic in Hyndburn to 6,247 and across Lancashire to 98,760.
It comes after earlier in the week, Hyndburn council said the borough’s infection rate was “levelling off”, having reached a new peak.
In a social media statement on Monday, the council said: “Hyndburn’s latest Covid-19 infection rate is 696 per 100,000 for the period 7th January to 13th January 2021.
“Unfortunately this is Hyndburn’s highest rate to date, with an increase of 2 per cent from the previous week, however, the rate is levelling off.
“Please stay at home whenever you can and keep safe.
“If you are in any doubt about having Coronavirus please get a test. Call 119 or visit nhs.uk/Coronavirus”
Pictures have also emerged this week from inside Lancashire’s new main Covid vaccination hub. Thousands of people aged 80 and over are being invited to book a Coronavirus vaccination at a new NHS larger scale vaccination centre at Blackburn Cathedral.
People who are eligible, live within 45 minutes’ drive from the new vaccination site and who haven’t already been vaccinated by their local GP led vaccination services or hospital hub, will receive letters from the NHS Covid-19 Vaccination Booking Service, telling them how they can book their appointment.
The facility is expected to be able to accommodate at least 1,700 people a day.
Kevin McGee, Chief Executive of East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, which is leading the recruitment of staff for the vaccination programme throughout Lancashire and South Cumbria, said: “We are grateful for the co-operation of everyone at Blackburn Cathedral in making the Crypt available to use as the area’s first large vaccination centre and I would personally like to thank the whole team, including staff from East Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, for their enormous and outstanding contribution in getting it up and running so quickly.
“It is absolutely instrumental in our fight against this virus and the devastating effects Covid is having in our community.”