Published Monday 2 November 2020 at 15:17
The civic leaders of Blackburn with Darwen have urged residents to continue to help efforts to control the virus as government announces it is to impose tighter restrictions across England.
We expect the government will be publishing the full regulations of the new measures on Tuesday. This will set out which businesses and services must close, including services that the Council provides. Subject to parliamentary approval, the restrictions will come into force 00:01 am on Thursday.
While the government has issued some guidance already, the Council is still waiting for full details.
In the meantime we continue to be in Very High Alert and residents must continue to follow the existing restrictions.
Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, Councillor Mohammed Khan, Chief Executive Denise Park and Public Health Director Dominic Harrison said in a joint statement:
Following the government announcing on Saturday it has decided to impose tighter restrictions across England, we are currently reviewing the guidance that has been set out and waiting for further guidance when the regulations are published.
The Council is working with its partners to understand all the implications of the new measures including the full impact on public services, residents and businesses.
We will share further details with you as soon as possible.
We are especially keen to get details around support for our beleaguered businesses. We know the government’s new restrictions are going to have a devastating impact on businesses. We are sure they are at the end of their tether especially as the majority of them have done their absolute best to be covid-secure. We hope further details on business support including the support already announced because we are in tier three will be issued to us soon.
Let’s be actually clear. The situation in the borough is challenging.
We do know that cases are extremely high in the borough and continuing to rise. Hospital admissions and the number of people in Intensive Care Unit are also on the increase. Sadly, deaths will inevitably continue to rise.
Our priorities are to protect lives, protect the vulnerable, protect the NHS and protect the economy as much as possible.
We are all fed up of this situation but as civic leaders we urge you to please adhere to the regulations and guidance.
If everyone works together, helps each other and follows the basics of washing hands, wearing a face covering, keeping 2m from others, getting a test if you have symptoms and self-isolating when told to do so, the more progress we can make. Together we can beat this virus.