BLACKBURN with Darwen borough registered more than 55,000 Covid-19 cases during the pandemic a new report reveals.

But it also says 71.5 per cent of its population have had two coronavirus jabs.

The figures come in a report on Blackburn with Darwen Council's 'Response to the Covid-19 pandemic - 2021/22' by the authority's leader Cllr Phil Riley.

The document to be considered by the council's executive board meeting on Thursday says: Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, our communities have experienced some of the worst effects of this devastating virus.

"As the pandemic developed there was an increasing acceptance that places with high levels of deprivation, larger black and minority ethnic populations, higher density and overcrowded housing, greater numbers of workers in key frontline occupations and younger population profiles had higher risks from Covid-19 in terms of infections, hospitalisations and deaths.

"Blackburn with Darwen has all of these key risk factors and we will need to continue to be vigilant to ensure the suppression of the enduring rates of transmission experienced by the borough to date.

"Up until March 2022, we have seen more than 55,000 positive cases of Covid -19 in the Borough.

"Covid-19 is still a concern for many of our residents and partners across the public, private sector and voluntary sectors.

"Businesses and employers have faced the reality of how Covid-19 has affected them and are still faced with an uncertain and unprecedented future.

"As a civic leader, the council has a crucial role to play in delivering services through business as usual and supporting residents and businesses to live with Covid-19.

"Between April 1 2021 to March 31 2022 there were a total number of 9,174 positive Covid-19 cases reported from schools and educational settings.

"The vaccination programme changed the trajectory of the pandemic and can be attributed to the saving of lives and protection from severe illness for many across the borough and country.

"The local vaccination programme has been progressing well since its inception with 77.2 per cent of the 12-plus population having received their first dose and 71.5 per cent receiving their second dose. (Data from April 20 2022).

"However, despite these overall high levels of uptake, there continue to be signs of lower uptake in lower income and some ethnic minority groups and as a result we are continuing to provide support to the vaccination programme."