WE MUST ALL PLAY OUR PART
● Covid vigilance plea from leaders as virus cases rise ● Hyndburn now in TOP 5 blackspots ● Hundreds book at new test centre
‘LET’S do it for Hyndburn’ is the message from political leaders, as the borough moved into the leading five places with the highest rates of new Covid-19 cases across England.
This week saw local efforts to curtail the virus ramped up with a testing centre installed at Hyndburn Leisure Centre and leaders urging the public to be extra vigilant, following a slight increase in positive tests in the borough and its proximity to Blackburn with Darwen (BwD), which continues to top the list of local authorities in the country.
Hyndburn was one of nine areas in Lancashire showing an increase in the rolling seven-day rate to July 24.
BwD, which is now designated an ‘area of intervention’, saw a falling rate of 75.2 new cases per 100,000 people. But Hyndburn now sits fifth with 39.6 cases per 100,000, up from 26.0, with 32 new cases recorded.
Hyndburn council is a member of the multiagency Lancashire Resilience Forum, which continues to monitor the transmission rate of the coronavirus within our community on a daily basis.
Leader Coun Miles Parkinson said: “Unfortunately we have seen a small rise in the number of positive tests across the borough and, as more businesses including sports centres, gyms and beauty salons open their doors we are urging people to stick to the government guidelines to help reduce the spread.
“It is more important than ever that everyone continues to follow the guidance - respect social distancing, wear a face mask where appropriate, wash hands regularly for 20 seconds or more and engage fully with NHS Test and Trace if contacted. We all must play our part in this, let’s do it for Hyndburn.”
Hyndburn’s MP Sara Britcliffe added: “We can all protect our family, friends and work colleagues by helping to reduce the spread. We are next door to Blackburn with Darwen, who are managing a spike currently, and by following the safety rules we can all help reduce the spread.
“If you have symptoms of the virus, please get tested so that you can protect yourself, your family and friends and other people in our community.
“If you live with someone with symptoms, you must self-isolate for 14 days from the day their symptoms started, as it can take 14 days for symptoms to appear.
“And if you have symptoms, it’s very important to stay at home, get yourself tested and follow the advice from the NHS Test and Trace service,” explained Ms Britcliffe.
Councillor Marlene Haworth, council opposition leader for the Conservative group, said: “Hyndburn is a great community and now more than ever we need to come together to reduce the spread of coronavirus.
“If we all stick to the rules we can reduce the transmission of Covid-19 in our community.”
The so-called ‘two-pillar’ Government data is based on tests carried out in laboratories and in the wider community. Data for the most recent three days has been excluded as it is incomplete and likely to be revised.
However, latest prevalence estimates from the Covid Symptom Study app, up to 5am on July 28, suggested a slightly improved picture overall, with Hyndburn having 131.4 active cases per 100,000 population - down from 154.9 last week. This data relies on information uploaded to the app, developed by health science company ZOE and King’s College London researchers, which has been downloaded millions of times, rather than official government testing figures.
However, it has been seen as a reliable source of data throughout the crisis.