A STARK warning has been issued that the community cannot risk another lockdown and people are being urged to embrace new measures aimed at preventing this from happening.
Blackburn with Darwen Council is working to get the message out, including health and safety information via mosques and madrassahs and pop-up stands across the borough handing out leaflets, hand sanitiser and face masks.
Today, NHS Blackburn with Darwen CGG set up hand sanitising stations on Johnston Street and outside the community centre in Little Harwood.
It comes as Blackburn with Darwen now has the highest coronavirus infection rate in England, overtaking Leicester.
The council is also looking at setting up a system where track and trace workers knock on people’s doors after it emerged the national system is failing to reach over 50 per cent of contacts named by infected residents across Blackburn with Darwen.
Speaking on BBC Radio Lancashire today, Prof Dominic Harrison, Director of Public Health for Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “We think our local knowledge, our local people who work for the council would have a much better chance of getting a response.
“Either through ringing or more particularly, door knocking. “Leicester has just started doing it because they were having similar challenges. We will start off first with the confirmed cases.”
Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council Mohammed Khan said: “It is good to be able to reassure our residents that we are working with prominent local organisations to help get the message out to everyone that 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.
“That’s why working in partnership in this way is so important - We will get through this together.”
The measures will be accompanied by a social media campaign that is specifically targeted on encouraging people to continue cutting down on large gatherings, keeping two metres apart, not shaking hands at this time, wearing a face covering in enclosed public spaces, washing hands and getting tested.
Chief officer of Lancashire BME network Naz Zaman said: “We’re happy to work with the council in partnership on this vital work. Blackburn has a strong and resilient community spirit.
“We can’t risk another lockdown - we all have a responsibility to act with caution and follow the government guidelines.”
She added: “We need to remember that Covid-19 has not vanished. “It is still a threat to all of us, and it is our job to protect our families, friends and the wider community.”
The council has joined forced with Lancashire BME Network, Youth Action, IMO Charity, Lancashire Council of Mosques, Brookhouse Development Group, Blackburn with Darwen Healthy Living and One Voice Blackburn in order to deliver these measures.
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