New Lancashire Covid restrictions might not be enough to curb the virus, public health boss warns

There is no guarantee that new measures introduced to help stem the spread of coronavirus will be sufficient to bring rising rates of infection under control.
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That was the stark assessment of Lancashire’s director of public health after the government announced sweeping restrictions in all parts of the county except Blackpool.

As of 22nd September, there will be a ban on mixing between households in homes and gardens, hospitality venues will be required to close between 10pm and 5am and pubs and restaurants will also be restricted to table service.

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Residents in all Lancashire districts are also being strongly advised to avoid using public transport unless it is essential, not to attend professional or amateur sporting events as a spectator and to avoid household mixing in public venues.

New Covid restrictions are coming into force across LancashireNew Covid restrictions are coming into force across Lancashire
New Covid restrictions are coming into force across Lancashire

Several of the restrictions have been in force in Preston, Pendle and Blackburn for more than a month.

However, Dr, Sakthi Karunanithi said that “only time will tell” whether the move to extend them across Lancashire will make any dent in rapidly rising Covid rates, particularly in areas with the highest levels of infection. Currently, the county has three of the top five worst affected areas of the country - Hyndburn (2nd), Preston (3rd) and Rossendale (4th) Burnley is also inside the top ten.

“We need to go for swift, decisive action as a society with maximum possible suppression of transmission of the virus, hopefully for the shortest period of time, “ Dr. Karunanithi said.

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“If this doesn’t control the spread, I wouldn’t be surprised if there were further measures, particularly in areas where there are high levels of transmission - before a much wider geographical intervention.

“The impact of rising infections is starting to show up in hospital admissions. There is generally a two-week gap and we are starting to see that happening. We also know [the virus] is widespread in communities across Lancashire at high levels.”

The public health boss said that the so-called “rule of six” was not enough to drive levels down in Lancashire – and the crucial action needed was to stop households mixing and stick to social distancing and hygiene measures.

Dr. Karunanithi also warned that any problems in the test and trace system would be like having “a hole in your boat”.

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His message came at the end of a week in which Burney, Pendle, Hyndburn and Preston were forced to reduce the days that their community testing sites were able to open due to a lack of lab capacity in the national system – and across Lancashire were left struggling to book tests.

“We do need to have a more accessible, more timely test and trace programme for addressing the transmission – and that is a work in progress,” Dr. Karunanithi said, adding that representations had been made to the government.

A cross-party group of council leaders and MPs has also written to the Prime Minister to appeal for improvements to a testing system that is “failing to keep pace with demand”.

Meanwhile, Lancashire Police deputy chief constable Terry Woods pleaded for people to make “sensible decisions” and not have “one last blast” before the regulations come into force.

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“This is a moral responsibility that each of us have to look after ourselves, our families, friends and communities. My big plea is please don’t [act irresponsibly] this weekend – it won’t help things, it will make things significantly worse.

“Please don’t let us have to get into the emergency response that we had to get into at the beginning of this virus. There is still a chance for the public of Lancashire to reverse this trend,” DCC Woods said.

Angie Ridgwell, chair of the Lancashire Resilience Forum, also warned people that the new rules would be enforced based on where they lived – not where they might be travelling.

“You can’t just go across to Blackpool and think the regulations won’t apply to you, because they will do.”

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Ms. Ridgwell acknowledged that people were “tired” of having to live their lives under the cloud of Covid restrictions, but asked for people to start abiding by the new ones immediately and not wait until next Tuesday when theyu bevcome law. She also warned:

“Controlling the virus has to be everyone’s priority, because if we don’t do so, we’re going to see further restrictions and, worse still, we’ll start to see deaths taking place as we head towards the winter.

“We are doing this for your safety and the safety of your families and loved ones,” she added.