Valley is in lockdown as hospital patient dies
ROSSENDALE joined the UK in a lockdown this week in a bid to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, as East Lancashire’s first patient to die after testing positive for the disease was confirmed at Royal Blackburn Hospital.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered people to stay home and only leave the house in a few circumstances such as shopping for basic necessities; partaking in one form of exercise a day; for a medical need or travelling to work if it is absolutely necessary.
Imminent plans for a critical incident hub in Rossendale have been announced this week.
The NHS is also looking to recruit an army of up to 250,000 volunteers to help up to 1.5m people who have been asked to shield themselves from coronavirus because of underlying health conditions.
Over the course of the past week, leisure centres, council buildings, libraries, museums and tips - including Haslingden’s waste recycling centre - were shut until further notice. Play areas are also shut, although parks only remain open for exercise.
THE UK entered a surreal lockdown this week in a bid to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, as East Lancashire’s first patient to die after testing positive for the disease was confirmed at Royal Blackburn Hospital.
As of Tuesday, there were 422 deaths across the UK with positive Covid-19 tests, a steep rise on the previous day.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered people to stay home and only leave the house in a few circumstances such as shopping for basic necessities; partaking in one form of exercise a day; for a medical need, or travelling to work if it is absolutely necessary.
Imminent plans for a critical incident hub in Rossendale have been announced this week, while the NHS is also looking to recruit an army of up to 250,000 volunteers to help up to 1.5m people who have been asked to shield themselves from coronavirus because of underlying health conditions.
Over the course of the past week, leisure centres, council buildings, libraries, museums and tips - including Haslingden’s waste recycling centre - were shut until further notice. Play areas are also shut, although parks remain open for exercise but please do not gather in groups there.
In a joint statement, Rossendale council leader Coun Alyson Barnes and chief executive Neil Shaw said: “We understand how difficult this is for everyone. These are really drastic measures. Most of us have never seen anything like this in our lifetimes.
“But if we work together, support each other and most importantly, follow the Government’s instructions on this, we will be able to come through it.
“It is of course vital to keep active at this time – and that includes going outside once a day for exercise or for any of the other exempt reasons – but please follow social distancing guidance whilst you do.
“We are continuing to work with partners right across the borough, county as well as nationally in response to the coronavirus crisis. Thank you for your continuing support.”
Lancashire Police said they will crack down on people who continue to ignore the social isolation measures put in place.
Chf Const Andy Rhodes said: “We will be taking a very strong position on this. We have legislation already at our disposal to use, and particularly for people who insist on mass gatherings we will be taking a zero tolerance approach.”
The government has announced that, on top of pubs, restaurants and gyms already being closed, that all shops - apart from those selling food and pharmacies - were to shut. Places of worship were also ordered to close with weddings, baptisms and other ceremonies cancelled and only funerals allowed to take place.
Gatherings of more than two people in public will be broken up. These strict measures will be reviewed in three weeks - which takes us to around April 13.
In a statement on Monday, Kevin McGee, the chief executive of the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, confirmed that a pensioner in his 80s from Great Harwood, Bill Smith, had sadly passed away.
Offering his condolences to the family Mr McGee said: “We realise that the current situation is difficult, and will get harder.”
He urged everyone to act on the essential advice of social distancing, stay at home wherever possible and washing hands frequently with soap for 20 seconds.
Professor Dominic Harrison, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s public health director, said: “I would like express my sympathy to Mr Smith’s family.
“Sadly this is going to be the first of many. However. we are all able to help reduce the number of future deaths by following the guidelines out there on social distancing.
“The key to stopping deaths in the future lies not with the NHS and its staff but with our community itself. It is vital people adhere to the guidelines.”