EAST Lancashire is unlikely to come out of the toughest tier three coronavirus restrictions before the end of January, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s public health director has warned.
After Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed that the whole county would remain under ‘very high alert’ rules until the Christmas relaxation, Professor Dominic Harrison said he did not expect any change when the government reviews them on December 30 and January 13.
He said despite reducing rates of Covid-19 in Blackburn with Darwen he could not forecast sufficient improvement, given the festive window allowing more household mixing, to permit the tier status to be changed from three to two in January.
Tier three rules mean pubs and restaurants and other hospitality venues remain restricted to takeaway service only and household mixing in all indoor and most outdoor settings will stay banned apart from the ‘Five Days of Christmas’ relaxation.
Professor Harrison said: “For Pennine Lancashire, the national government judgement to keep us at tier three was not a surprise despite the fact that there has been some real progress amongst most Lancashire local authorities during and since the lockdown.
“The judgement to keep Lancashire in tier three will have been influenced by the fact that despite recent improvements , 11 out of 14 of the Lancashire local authority areas have rates either plateauing or rising again and the rates of Covid cases in Lancashire hospitals, though less than the peak of the second wave in November, are now plateauing and presenting a very challenging NHS and social care position with rising admissions from other winter related causes.
“For some Lancashire areas like Blackburn with Darwen , we do have a continuing positive story of progress although we remain above regional and national average rates.
“The data up to the December 17 shows the borough has fallen to 73rd in the national league table of confirmed cases – our best position for months. However, our confirmed case rate is still at 235 per 100,000 population with the North-West rate now 141 per 100,000 and the England average 196. The next review dates for tiers will be December 30 and then January 13.
“Directors of public health expect rates in almost every local authority in England will be rising then as a result of the five-day Christmas easing. For this reason, we should probably not expect to be coming out of tier three in the next two reviews.”
Ribble Valley Council leader Cllr Stephen Atkinson said: “I think Lancashire is too large to be dealt with as a single entity.
“As regards the Ribble Valley, the recent increase in cases over the last few days manes it would be difficult to advocate the lowering to tier two. However we welcome a review in the New Year when hope the number of infections will have come down.”
Cllr Alyson Barnes, leader of Rossendale Council, said: “I this was predictable and inevitable. Until our numbers are considerably lower I can’t see us getting out of tier three for some time.”
Blackburn MP Kate Hollern said: “Remaining in tier three is still another blow to Blackburn. Businesses are on their knees ."
Cllr Miles Parkinson, leader of Hyndburn Council, said: “We understand we are not where we need to be yet. But hopefully with the vaccine roll out we will get to lowers tiers and through this pandemic.”
Blackburn with Darwen Council leader Cllr Mohammed Khan said: “While it’s pleasing to see that the borough’s coronavirus rates have decreased over the last few weeks, more recently they have levelled out rather than continuing to drop.
“Things are moving in the right direction though, and we can take control of the virus if everyone in Blackburn with Darwen continues to follow the public health guidance.
“With Christmas approaching, it’s so important to keep up the good work and not let the sacrifices we’ve all made go to waste.”
Cllr Mark Townsend, leader of Burnley Council, said: "With the high and increasing numbers of infections over the last few days tier three was inevitable. I fear that the government's muddled messages over Christmas will make things worse."
Pendle Council leader Cllr Mohammed Iqbal said: “I am disappointed we remain in tier three.”
Share